With 25 deaths in Dominica following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika the authorities are worried the figure could rise as search and rescue operations intensify.
Dominica's Minister of Works and Ports, Ian Pinard, says the 25 people who died due to flooding and landslides, were from one community
An elderly blind man and two children in south eastern Dominica are reportedly among the dead.
Pinard says 14 bodies have been recovered and between 20 and 30 persons reported missing.
Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has described the destruction as one of epic proportion after floods wiped out roads and swamped villages.
On Thursday, local media reported that Erika dumped more than 12 inches of rain in a 12-hour period at the Canefield Airport near Roseau.
It has left over 80-per cent of the country without electricity.
Several countries including Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, are aiding the government in recovery efforts.
TS Erika Forecast
Forecasters say the centre of Erika will move over the Dominican Republic on Friday.
About 11 am, Erika was located 65 miles South Southeast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour.
Early Friday, Puerto Rico was lashed with heavy rain and winds.
Sections of Cuba are also experiencing rain.
Tropical storm warnings continue in Haiti, the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as the central and southeast Bahamas.
Erika could weaken to a tropical wave while crossing Hispaniola.
However, forecasters say it could strengthen when it makes landfall on the Florida Peninsula.
Florida Governor Rick Scott has urged residents to prepare, declaring a state of emergency for all counties Friday morning.
Severe weather alert for Jamaica
The Meteorological Service Jamaica has issued a Severe Weather Alert for the island until 5 o'clock Saturday morning.
On its forecast track, the centre of Erika is expected to move well north of Jamaica by Saturday morning.
However, rain associated with the storm is still expected to affect the island within the next 24 to 36 hours.
Projections are for showers and thunderstorms, which could be heavy at times, to affect the island tomorrow into Sunday.
The Meteorological Service says there is a possibility of flash flooding in isolated cases.
Sea conditions mainly north and east of the island will deteriorate in the vicinity of showers and thunderstorms due to gusty winds.
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