Deadly rains hit the Caribbean

Thousands of people have been evacuated after heavy rains hit the Caribbean, sweeping away a six-year-old boy.

Heavy downpours across the Caribbean have caused deadly floods that forced authorities to evacuate thousands of people.

Officials on the island of St. Vincent said floodwaters swept away two people on Wednesday, including a six-year-old boy.

A third person was hospitalised.

The government of the eastern Caribbean island shuttered schools and government offices amid heavy rains that also caused multiple landslides.

Meanwhile, at least one person died in the Dominican Republic amid widespread flooding that prompted the evacuation of 26,000 people in the country's eastern and northern regions.

Some two dozen homes were completely destroyed and more than 5,200 were damaged.

Forecasters said the severe weather is expected to continue through late Wednesday.