4 dead, others missing after Tropical Storm Erika's deluge hits Dominica
Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Erika have caused devastation on the Caribbean island of Dominica, leaving at least four people dead and more than 20 missing, authorities said.
Erika is expected to remain a tropical storm as it approaches South Florida on Monday.
Dominica's Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said Erika caused \"extensive damage\" across the small island after floods wiped out roads and swamped villages.
He expressed particular concern for Petite Savanne, a community hit by mudslides that rescuers haven't been able to reach yet.
\"This is where many are feared lost,\" Skerrit said.
The immediate focus for authorities is on search-and-rescue efforts, with other countries in the region providing helicopters and other assistance.
Skerrit said the task of repairing Dominica's \"dramatically affected\" infrastructure would come later, estimating that the cost of fixing homes, roads, bridges and other structures would run into tens of millions of dollars.