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Dominicans die in torrential rain Caribbean storm kills 13 people
(about 4 hours later)
At least eight people have been killed in flooding in the Dominican Republic following torrential rains dumped by Tropical Storm Noel. At least 13 people have been killed in flooding in the Dominican Republic following torrential rains dumped by Tropical Storm Noel.
The deaths were reported in the Dominican capital Santo Domingo, and along the south coast.The deaths were reported in the Dominican capital Santo Domingo, and along the south coast.
It is feared the death toll will rise, with several others reported missing.It is feared the death toll will rise, with several others reported missing.
The Dominican Republic and neighbouring Haiti were likely to be deluged by 25-50cm (10-20in) of rain, the US National Hurricane Centre said. The storm was expected to pour 25-50cm (10-20in) of rain on the Dominican Republic and neighbouring Haiti, the US National Hurricane Center said.
The centre of the storm had passed by midday on Monday, and was set to head north towards the Bahamas. By early Monday evening (2100 GMT) the centre of the storm had passed and was heading north-west, past the eastern tip of Cuba towards the Bahamas.
However, rain continued to fall, forcing river levels higher. Several bridges were reported to have collapsed, cutting off communities. However, on the island of Hispaniola - divided between the Dominican Republic and Haiti - rain continued to fall, forcing river levels higher.
Several hundred people were being evacuated, amid fears of flash floods and landslides, the Dominican authorities said. Several bridges were reported to have collapsed, cutting off communities.
Hundreds of people were being evacuated, amid fears of flash floods and landslides, the Dominican authorities said.
The head of the Dominican National Emergency Committee, retired General Luis Luna Paulino, said 13 deaths had been confirmed.
He told Reuters there was a report of a family being buried when their house collapsed, and another of a family in a car killed by a falling wall.
"If those two accidents are confirmed then the deaths climb to 18," he said.
The newspaper Diario Libre said on its website that farmers had suffered big losses and that numerous areas had lost power.The newspaper Diario Libre said on its website that farmers had suffered big losses and that numerous areas had lost power.
Deforested slopesDeforested slopes
The island of Hispaniola - divided between the Dominican Republic and Haiti - is particularly vulnerable to flooding because of its steep hills and because many houses are no more than shacks. Hispaniola is particularly vulnerable to flooding because of its steep hills and because many houses are no more than shacks.
While there were not as yet any reports of fatalities from Haiti, the country often suffers worse from flooding than its neighbour because so much of it has been deforested.While there were not as yet any reports of fatalities from Haiti, the country often suffers worse from flooding than its neighbour because so much of it has been deforested.
The town of Cabaret, north of the capital Port-au-Prince, where floods killed at least 23 people this month, was being evacuated, said Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, director of Haiti's civil protection agency. The town of Cabaret, north of the capital Port-au-Prince, where floods earlier this month killed at least 23 people, was being evacuated, and Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis urged people to seek shelter.
"We are working hard to make sure everything goes well," he told the Associated Press. "It's very serious now," he said.
"It's moving very slowly and dropping a lot of rain."