12175: Powerful storm system kills 26 in Haiti, Jamaica (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

    KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 27 (Reuters) - At least 26 people died in
Jamaica and Haiti in flooding and landslides caused by a powerful storm
system that swept across the northern Caribbean, police and media reports
said on Monday.
     Jamaican police said six people were drowned in flood waters or were
buried in landslides between Friday and Sunday as the storm, which formed
in the western Caribbean Sea late last week, carried torrential rains
across the island.
     In Haiti, private Radio Metropole said at least 20 people drowned and
dozens more were reported missing when heavy rains hit the South and Grande
Anse districts, causing rivers to overflow their banks and sweeping modest
tin and wooden structures away.
     Jamaica's National Meteorological Office issued flash flood warnings
for the entire island of 2.6 million people, saying the unstable weather
could continue for another two days.
     The most affected parish was Clarendon in central Jamaica, where
thousands of people were affected by flooded homes, damaged roofs and
mudslides.
     The Office of Disaster Preparedness said 103 families were in shelters
across Clarendon. Government officials estimated damage so far at about $6
million.
     Several schools in the parishes of Clarendon, Portland, St. Thomas and
St. Mary and the capital, Kingston, were closed and business activity
limited as workers were urged to stay home.