The girl died in a landslide in the capital Santo Domingo after hours of torrential rain, which knocked out power to several parts of the city and swept away vehicles.

Metro services were halted over the flooding.

"Since early this morning, we have been mobilizing the government, especially in Greater Santo Domingo...to protect lives and (prevent) property damage," President Luis Abinader told reporters.

Fifteen of 31 provinces in the Caribbean nation, a tourist hotspot famous for its white sand beaches, had been placed on flood alert before the rains began on Tuesday evening.

The government ordered reduced working hours for all due to the transport chaos and said remote work should be prioritized for non-essential staff.