"Tropical storm Erika lashed Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with heavy rain and fierce winds on Friday, moving across the Caribbean and seemingly heading for the Bahamas and Florida, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Twelve inches (30 cm) of rain was expected in some areas and "could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides", the Miami-based government forecaster said.

Several people were still missing after rain-triggered landslides on the small, mountainous island of Dominica on Thursday, country officials said."

Victoria Cavaliere reports for Reuters August 28, 2015. [2]