Latest news with #CivilDefenseAgency
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
Canadian Tourist Found Dead After ‘Drowning Accident' on Dominican Republic Beach
The body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore in the Dominican Republic in the early morning hours of June 20 Dorian Christian MacDonald was last seen at around 2 a.m. local time on a beach walk, and his body was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. MacDonald's loved ones called his death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe pageThe body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore on a beach in the Dominican Republic. Dorian Christian MacDonald was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. local time on the morning of June 20, per Canadian national news outlet CTV News. MacDonald was on a solo vacation at a hotel in Puerto Plata on the island's north coast, and authorities said he had been walking alone on the beach at about 2 a.m., per the outlet. CTV News reached out to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the department that oversees diplomatic relations, and a GAC spokesperson reportedly confirmed that they are 'aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in the Dominican Republic,' but could not disclose any further information due to privacy considerations. The representative also reportedly said the department is currently providing consular services to the victim's family, per the outlet. Jenssen Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republic's Civil Defense Agency, which manages emergency response efforts, told Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail that first responders were called to the scene after receiving a call at 3 a.m. local time. Sanchez confirmed that the body was located more than an hour later. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. PEOPLE reached out to the Civil Defense Agency and Global Affairs Canada for comment on Saturday, June 28, but did not receive an immediate response. Tara McKenzie, a friend of MacDonald and his family, called MacDonald's death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe established to help cover his funeral expenses, as well as the various costs associated with returning his body to Canada. 'Between flights, international paperwork, funeral coordination, preparation of his body and all the red tape, we're looking at a cost of $10,000–$20,000 just to get him back. And honestly? We just want him out of that cold system and back where he belongs — with us,' McKenzie wrote on the fundraising page. She also described MacDonald as a force of nature, leaving an imprint on almost everyone he met. 'There are some people who don't just pass through your life. They crash in, kick their shoes off, make you laugh until your ribs hurt, become your chosen family and just stay there, woven into the fabric of your heart forever,' McKenzie wrote, adding, 'Dorian Christian MacDonald, who most of us also know affectionately as D-Mac, was one of those people.' 'Dorian handed out hugs, compliments and I love you's as freely as oxygen,' she continued. 'He was that person. His presence felt like it would just always be there. And now, somehow, just like that, he's gone." As of Saturday, June 28, the fundraiser has raised over $26,000 toward a goal of $29,000. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Canadian Tourist Found Dead After ‘Drowning Accident' on Dominican Republic Beach
The body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore in the Dominican Republic in the early morning hours of June 20 Dorian Christian MacDonald was last seen at around 2 a.m. local time on a beach walk, and his body was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. MacDonald's loved ones called his death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe pageThe body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore on a beach in the Dominican Republic. Dorian Christian MacDonald was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. local time on the morning of June 20, per Canadian national news outlet CTV News. MacDonald was on a solo vacation at a hotel in Puerto Plata on the island's north coast, and authorities said he had been walking alone on the beach at about 2 a.m., per the outlet. CTV News reached out to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the department that oversees diplomatic relations, and a GAC spokesperson reportedly confirmed that they are 'aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in the Dominican Republic,' but could not disclose any further information due to privacy considerations. The representative also reportedly said the department is currently providing consular services to the victim's family, per the outlet. Jenssen Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republic's Civil Defense Agency, which manages emergency response efforts, told Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail that first responders were called to the scene after receiving a call at 3 a.m. local time. Sanchez confirmed that the body was located more than an hour later. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. PEOPLE reached out to the Civil Defense Agency and Global Affairs Canada for comment on Saturday, June 28, but did not receive an immediate response. Tara McKenzie, a friend of MacDonald and his family, called MacDonald's death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe established to help cover his funeral expenses, as well as the various costs associated with returning his body to Canada. 'Between flights, international paperwork, funeral coordination, preparation of his body and all the red tape, we're looking at a cost of $10,000–$20,000 just to get him back. And honestly? We just want him out of that cold system and back where he belongs — with us,' McKenzie wrote on the fundraising page. She also described MacDonald as a force of nature, leaving an imprint on almost everyone he met. 'There are some people who don't just pass through your life. They crash in, kick their shoes off, make you laugh until your ribs hurt, become your chosen family and just stay there, woven into the fabric of your heart forever,' McKenzie wrote, adding, 'Dorian Christian MacDonald, who most of us also know affectionately as D-Mac, was one of those people.' 'Dorian handed out hugs, compliments and I love you's as freely as oxygen,' she continued. 'He was that person. His presence felt like it would just always be there. And now, somehow, just like that, he's gone." As of Saturday, June 28, the fundraiser has raised over $26,000 toward a goal of $29,000. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Canadian Tourist Found Dead After ‘Drowning Accident' on Dominican Republic Beach
The body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore in the Dominican Republic in the early morning hours of June 20 Dorian Christian MacDonald was last seen at around 2 a.m. local time on a beach walk, and his body was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. MacDonald's loved ones called his death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe pageThe body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore on a beach in the Dominican Republic. Dorian Christian MacDonald was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. local time on the morning of June 20, per Canadian national news outlet CTV News. MacDonald was on a solo vacation at a hotel in Puerto Plata on the island's north coast, and authorities said he had been walking alone on the beach at about 2 a.m., per the outlet. CTV News reached out to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the department that oversees diplomatic relations, and a GAC spokesperson reportedly confirmed that they are 'aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in the Dominican Republic,' but could not disclose any further information due to privacy considerations. The representative also reportedly said the department is currently providing consular services to the victim's family, per the outlet. Jenssen Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republic's Civil Defense Agency, which manages emergency response efforts, told Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail that first responders were called to the scene after receiving a call at 3 a.m. local time. Sanchez confirmed that the body was located more than an hour later. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. PEOPLE reached out to the Civil Defense Agency and Global Affairs Canada for comment on Saturday, June 28, but did not receive an immediate response. Tara McKenzie, a friend of MacDonald and his family, called MacDonald's death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe established to help cover his funeral expenses, as well as the various costs associated with returning his body to Canada. 'Between flights, international paperwork, funeral coordination, preparation of his body and all the red tape, we're looking at a cost of $10,000–$20,000 just to get him back. And honestly? We just want him out of that cold system and back where he belongs — with us,' McKenzie wrote on the fundraising page. She also described MacDonald as a force of nature, leaving an imprint on almost everyone he met. 'There are some people who don't just pass through your life. They crash in, kick their shoes off, make you laugh until your ribs hurt, become your chosen family and just stay there, woven into the fabric of your heart forever,' McKenzie wrote, adding, 'Dorian Christian MacDonald, who most of us also know affectionately as D-Mac, was one of those people.' 'Dorian handed out hugs, compliments and I love you's as freely as oxygen,' she continued. 'He was that person. His presence felt like it would just always be there. And now, somehow, just like that, he's gone." As of Saturday, June 28, the fundraiser has raised over $26,000 toward a goal of $29,000. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Canadian Tourist Found Dead After ‘Drowning Accident' on Dominican Republic Beach
The body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore in the Dominican Republic in the early morning hours of June 20 Dorian Christian MacDonald was last seen at around 2 a.m. local time on a beach walk, and his body was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. MacDonald's loved ones called his death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe pageThe body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore on a beach in the Dominican Republic. Dorian Christian MacDonald was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. local time on the morning of June 20, per Canadian national news outlet CTV News. MacDonald was on a solo vacation at a hotel in Puerto Plata on the island's north coast, and authorities said he had been walking alone on the beach at about 2 a.m., per the outlet. CTV News reached out to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the department that oversees diplomatic relations, and a GAC spokesperson reportedly confirmed that they are 'aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in the Dominican Republic,' but could not disclose any further information due to privacy considerations. The representative also reportedly said the department is currently providing consular services to the victim's family, per the outlet. Jenssen Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republic's Civil Defense Agency, which manages emergency response efforts, told Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail that first responders were called to the scene after receiving a call at 3 a.m. local time. Sanchez confirmed that the body was located more than an hour later. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. PEOPLE reached out to the Civil Defense Agency and Global Affairs Canada for comment on Saturday, June 28, but did not receive an immediate response. Tara McKenzie, a friend of MacDonald and his family, called MacDonald's death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe established to help cover his funeral expenses, as well as the various costs associated with returning his body to Canada. 'Between flights, international paperwork, funeral coordination, preparation of his body and all the red tape, we're looking at a cost of $10,000–$20,000 just to get him back. And honestly? We just want him out of that cold system and back where he belongs — with us,' McKenzie wrote on the fundraising page. She also described MacDonald as a force of nature, leaving an imprint on almost everyone he met. 'There are some people who don't just pass through your life. They crash in, kick their shoes off, make you laugh until your ribs hurt, become your chosen family and just stay there, woven into the fabric of your heart forever,' McKenzie wrote, adding, 'Dorian Christian MacDonald, who most of us also know affectionately as D-Mac, was one of those people.' 'Dorian handed out hugs, compliments and I love you's as freely as oxygen,' she continued. 'He was that person. His presence felt like it would just always be there. And now, somehow, just like that, he's gone." As of Saturday, June 28, the fundraiser has raised over $26,000 toward a goal of $29,000. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What is an emergency alert?
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Cellphone users across the state received a test emergency alert, but the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency said that a live emergency alert went out to some users during the test, despite there not being an emergency. The test was initially sent out shortly after 11 a.m., and it appears that the test was not intended to be released to the public, but was meant for internal use. Honolulu introduces new emergency alert system This is not the first time an accidental emergency was declared, following the 2018 false ballistic missile warning. But with the prevalence of emergency alerts, it can be difficult to understand the different types of alerts and how they vary throughout the islands. According to the state, there are different regions for alerts, with each region consisting of multiple separate types of alerts. Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Maui and Kauaʻi Counties each have their own alert system, with the state having their own system that alerts all residents. There are numerous alerts that can reach any of the islands, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather alerts, which is helpful especially during hurricane season. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Alongside those alerts, the state can send out messages relation to their Earthquake Notification Service, Maile Amber Alert and more. While most county-specific alerts require a manual registration to receive them, many statewide alerts do not require registration and will automatically be sent to mobile devices in the area. For Honolulu, there are four different types of alerts that go out to mobile devices. The most broad of them is HNL Alert, which is a recently-debuted emergency system that the state describes as 'a one stop site for all city services. Where you can stay informed about traffic situations, beach/ocean alerts, weather advisories and more.' HNL Alerts can be sent to your mobile phone, as well as your email, allowing you to customize where is the best place to receive your information. The Department of Transportation also issues their own lane closure alerts for the island of Oʻahu. TheBus also sends alerts pertaining to issues regarding routes or services to those who utilize the transit service. While not necessarily an alert, the City and County of Honolulu also offers live traffic flow information with the help of traffic cameras, which can be used in tandem with traffic and emergency alerts to better plan your Hawaiʻi Island, there is a series of outdoor warning sirens, which can be found on the county's Civil Defense Agency's website. While not a mobile alert, the in-person alert can be just as helpful. Mobile emergency alerts, also through the Civil Defense Agency, can also be received to your phone or email. Those interested in staying in-the-know can sign up online for the alerts. The Hawaiʻi Police Department also issues alerts regarding public safety on their Nixle page, where residents may sign up to receive those alerts straight to their devices. Kauaʻi County has the fewest county-specific alerts, with their main form being the Kauaʻi County Alerts system which, similarly to other islands, can go to your mobile device or email. To sign up up for alerts, fill out the online opt-in form. For Maui County, residents can sign up for the main alert system for messages directly to them. For registration instructions, visit the sign-up website. For the complete list of state and county-wide alerts, visit the State of Hawaiʻi's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.