Matthew leaves behind a trail of death, damage

Santo Domingo.- The Emergency Operations Center (COE) ontuesday confirmed the death of at least four people, maintains flash floodingant mudslide warnings for nearly all provinces, evacuated more than 21,000, reporteddamages to 447 houses and washed out roads have cut off 32 communities.

Meanwhile the National Weather Office on Wednesday saidHurricane Matthew moves away from Cuba, but leaves behind an extensive cloudcover, continuing downpours and thunderstorms, though less intense.

It adds that as much as 50cm (18 inches) of rain willaccumulate during the next 48 hours.