In the Dominican Republic, heavy rainfall over the weekend resulted in the deaths of at least 21 people and forced thousands of residents from their homes, according to local officials. The toll included three children and nine people who were killed in a landslide that occurred after heavy rain caused the wall of a highway tunnel in Santo Domingo to collapse.

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported that the rain had also caused flooded homes, power outages, and damage to bridges and roads throughout the country. President Luis Abinader declared it “the biggest rain event in our nation’s history” and ordered schools to remain closed until Wednesday in order to ensure the safety of students and teachers. The US embassy stated that the rain, which is expected to continue in some parts of the country on Monday, is a result of a tropical cyclone. Most of the 32 provinces in the Dominican Republic are still under red and yellow weather alerts.

Among those killed were four American citizens and three individuals from neighboring Haiti, according to AFP news agency.