Tropical Storm Noel floods Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic - Flooding in the Dominican Republic caused by Tropical Storm Noel has killed at least 13 people.

The deaths were reported in the Dominican capital Santo Domingo, and along the south coast.

It is feared the death toll will rise, with several others reported missing.

The storm was expected to pour 10-20 inches of rain on the Dominican Republic and neighboring Haiti, the US National Hurricane Center said.

By early Monday evening the center of the storm had passed and was heading north-west, past the eastern tip of Cuba towards the Bahamas.

However, on the island of Hispaniola - divided between the Dominican Republic and Haiti - rain continued to fall, forcing river levels higher.

Several bridges were reported to have collapsed, cutting off communities.

Hundreds of people were being evacuated, amid fears of flash floods and landslides, the Dominican authorities said.

The head of the Dominican National Emergency Committee, retired General Luis Luna Paulino, said 13 deaths had been confirmed.