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Tsunami Threat in the Caribbean Ruled Out
Two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, with their epicenters located near the capital Caracas, shook Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24, according to the United States Geological Survey. The first quake, with its epicenter near Morón, about 200 km east of Caracas, was followed by several aftershocks, including a 7.5-magnitude quake recorded just seconds later. As a result of these strong earthquakes, the U.S. warning system issued a tsunami watch and advisory for several areas in the Caribbean. This included Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with a potential threat to islands within a 300-kilometer radius of the epicenter. The tsunami warning was finally lifted mid-evening. According to Agence France-Presse, the tremors in Venezuela were felt as far away as Bogotá, Colombia, more than 1,000 kilometers away.
Dominican Republic
Fatal Fire at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach
On June 19, a fire ravaged the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Hotel in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic—a resort popular with French tourists. The fire claimed the life of a 46-year-old Italian tourist. The hotel had an 84% occupancy rate and was hosting 1,690 people when the fire broke out. Guests, employees, staff, and service providers all had to be transported to safety. The evacuated guests were relocated to nearby hotels and, according to Dominican authorities, are receiving special assistance.
Saint Martin
The Territorial Collectivity Ordered to Pay Over 2.62 Million Euros for Unpaid Invoices
An airline going under, a president summoned to court, and now administrative court rulings ordering the Territorial Collectivity of Saint Martin to pay more than 2.62 million euros for unpaid bills, late payment interest, and legal fees. When things go wrong… According to a detailed article in Fax Info published on Wednesday, June 24, the administrative court’s rulings were handed down between June 15 and 18. They highlight a series of financial disputes between the Territorial Collectivity and five service providers—two associations and three companies—related to public contracts and funding programs. These include the Saint-Jean-Bosco association, to which the Territorial Collectivity must pay 738,237 euros; APF France Handicap (236,534 euros); the companies Computer Technologies (1.27 million euros), Embase (4,140 euros), and Verde SXM (372,130 euros).
“In all of the cases, the Collectivité did not file a defense brief, and the judges upheld claims that were largely uncontested, based on services rendered but not fully paid,” notes the article in Fax Info.
