Thousands flee flooding

SANTO DOMINGO – More than 27 000 people have been evacuated in the Dominican Republic due to flooding from heavy rains.The director of the nation’s emergency operations centre says more than 5 000 homes have been flooded.Juan Manuel Mendez said yesterday nearly nine inches (23 centimetres) of rain fell the previous day, destroying hundreds of acres (hectares) of rice fields in the country’s northeast.Flooding in the Dominican Republic began several days earlier when a tropical depression that later became Tropical Storm Bonnie blew through the area. (AP)