GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) - Rising flood waters forced thousands to abandon their homes yesterday while schools, stores and government offices closed, and the only state-owned radio station went off the air as water sloshed into the studios.

Hangars and runways flooded at the Ogle Municipal Airport east of Georgetown, forcing the airport's closure. Georgetown's main airport was still open and accepting flights.

Police reported at least one road fatality Monday, when a minibus skidded off a highway and crashed into a house, killing an unidentified passenger. A military helicopter photographing flooding in the region was also damaged when it made a crash landing on the lower east coast Monday. Neither the pilot nor co-pilot was injured.

"Everything is covered in this house, and little fish are swimming all over the place," said computer specialist Arlene Williams, who moved to a neighbour's second-floor apartment.

Although dozens of schools and public buildings were being set up as shelters in the capital of Georgetown and flooded coastal areas, most residents were staying with friends and family.

Rains that began Friday night were forecast to continue throughout the week.

The US Embassy and Caribbean Community headquarters closed yesterday, as rains continued and employees struggled to make it to work. The National Communications Network, the only government-owned radio station, also went off the air yesterday, saying "water had risen in its studios to dangerously high levels".

Some 40 inches (102 centimetres) have fallen since December 26, the most for a comparable period in more than 100 years. More than five inches (12.7 centimetres) fell Monday.

Dozens of vehicles remained submerged in ditches and canals.

The government has set aside $1 million (Guyanese $200 million) to deal with flood relief, and government agencies and the opposition jointly began distributing food to flood victims in the former British colony of 700,000 on the northern tip of South America.

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