Guadeloupe, French overseas territories hit with wind, rain from hurricane Tammy

After hurricane Tammy hit the French Caribbean island department of Guadeloupe, strong rain continued to fall Sunday, overflowing rivers and causing flooding and significant material damage.

Residents had been warned about the hurricane, which hit the department with winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour, so when rain continued to fall Sunday, people were prepared.

No deaths or injuries were reported, though there was significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.

France's junior minister for overseas territories, Philippe Vigier, is expected to arrive Monday to asses the damage.

Electricity poles were felled leaving 80 percent of Guadeloupe without electricity or phone service.

The drinking water system was also affected, with nearly all treatment plants shut down or facing difficulties Sunday afternoon.

Residents were asked not to drink water directly from the tap after the hurricane, and wait for the regional health authorities to determine when it would be safe.

Hurricane Tammy then went north, towards the French overseas collectivities of Saint-Barthélémy and Saint-Martin, which were spared the worst of the storm, though still received 100 milimeters of rain in the late afternoon.

(with newswires)