KINGSTON, Jamaica — Five days after tropical storm Erika hit the island of Dominica, efforts are on in earnest to evacuate residents from Petite Savanne — the area hardest hit by the storm.

A reporter in Dominica who spoke to OBSERVER ONLINE on condition of anonymity said evacuation efforts in Petite Savanne started Sunday.

The reporter that the residents  are being relocated to other family homes or hurricane shelters in schools.

In the meantime, landslides remain a very big threat to residents in Petite Savanne, as well as in the areas of Roseau Valley and Good Hope.

“In the Good Hope area, there have been three reported deaths — two children and their grandfather who was blind… a landslide took over the house and they recovered their bodies near a bus stop in their community,” the Dominican reporter said.

She added that the first two reported deaths were that of brothers who were swept away by the river in the Bath Estate area. She was unable to confirm on Monday as to whether their bodies have been recovered.

In the aftermath of Erika, 20 people have been  confirmed dead and more than 50 reported missing.

Javene Skyers