Heavy rain and flooding in the Caribbean and Central America by Nina Ridge
Around 14 people have been killed and more than 8000 have been forced to leave their homes as torrential rains lashed down on the Dominican Republic.
In total, four northern provinces have been placed on a red alert as heavy rains damaged many homes and thousands of acres of crops. Swollen rivers washed away bridges and scores of people were rescued from rooftops by helicopters. Vast numbers of people are cut off by the flood waters, and are waiting and hoping for emergency services to deliver food and provide shelter.
Four people died as a result of landslides in El Salvador, and another two people were killed by flooding as the storms battered Cuba.
The heavy rains across the region, according to local meteorologists, were generated by tropical storm Barbara which developed in the Pacific and has currently moved eastwards into Mexico’s southern coast. In the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, authorities warned of possible flash floods and landslides from the continued threat of heavy rain.
Many areas of central America are still on high alert as more rain is expected throughout today.
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