(BSS/AFP) - Heavy rains and flooding in the Dominican Republic have killed seven people and displaced more than 30,000 since last week, officials told AFP Wednesday.

Powerful storms that began April 7 have continued dumping rain on the Caribbean nation, where authorities are staying vigilant despite ebbing intensity of rainfall in recent hours.

"Five bodies have been recovered," civil defense director Juan Salas told AFP, adding to two deaths last week.

Emergency officials said at least 30,500 people have been displaced and forced out of their homes, where at least 6,500 homes have been damaged and dozens of communities have been cut off.

Local meteorologists have forecast more rain and hail in coming days.

Rains are battering the entire island of Hispaniola, which the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti, where at least 12 people have died since Saturday, according to officials there.