Tropical Storm Olga has claimed at least 20 lives in the Caribbean with many people pointing fingers at the government.

As Olga began lashing the Dominican Republic with rain Tuesday, officials slowly released water from the Tavera Dam into the Yaque River, Octavio Rodriguez, a member of the committee that oversees dams during emergencies, told The Associated Press.
But fearing a dam failure that could kill thousands in Santiago, the country’s second-largest city, the panel decided around 11 p.m. Tuesday to open all six floodgates an hour later, gushing 1.6 million gallons of water every second into the river.

Probably not the best moment in Dominican decision making. Because of the timing of the decision, most people living downriver were in bed and couldn’t be warned in time.

Police and local officials took to the streets as midnight approached to warn that a devastating flood was on its way. But many people said they had less than 15 minutes to flee before a wave of water 66 feet deep slammed into their homes.

Via / MSN