Torrential rains in Martinique yesterday flooded towns and touched off landslides. An estimated 12 inches of rain fell in some areas of the island in just a few hours beginning Monday night. As a result, four people are reported dead and thousands have been affected. About 80 percent of the island’s schools were closed on Monday and some 20,000 households lost power. Emergency crews were deployed immediately and are helping people affected by the floods.  

The island is still recovering from a monthlong strike that paralyzed the economy earlier this year.