8 dead in heavy rain on St Vincent

Flooding and landslides caused by heavy rain have killed at least eight people and injured five on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent.

The government's National Emergency Management Organisation said yesterday one of those who died was an 18-year-old college student. Five people were reported missing.

Among the eight killed was a cousin of prime minister Ralph Gonsalves, Cassian Gonsalves, who died on Tuesday night when a landslide crashed through his house.

The devastation prompted the prime minister to cut short a family holiday that had taken him to England and Rome, and he was due to return home today.

Photos posted by the Vatican showed that Mr Gonsalves had met Pope Francis.

In the heavily hit area of North Leeward in northwestern St Vincent, a family of five was killed when a house was swept into their home. Sixty-two people had taken refuge at a school converted to a shelter.

The emergency office said nine houses had been destroyed and 15 others were damaged. Several communities remained isolated because of damaged bridges or blocked roads, it said.

There was extensive flooding and damage elsewhere in the eastern part of the Caribbean. Police on the nearby island of St Lucia said a man died there when a wall fell on him.

Traditional Christmas Eve midnight religious services were cancelled and several churches in the capital of Castries opened their doors to stranded people.

"It's the worst Christmas I will ever spend," said Jude Francis, his clothes soaked from the rain.

St Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony described the damage as an emergency and a major setback for the country. "I don't think I can recall when we have had such heavy rainfall on the eve of Christmas," he said.

On the nearby island of Dominica, dozens of homes and at least two hotels were evacuated because of the danger of landslides and several roads were blocked by mud.

The cluster of thunderstorms came as the small islands were crowded with holiday tourists.

AP