Dellisser Thomas looks on in despair at his home in Bath, St. Thomas which was destroyed on Monday when a mango tree fell into the house as a result of persistent rains that have been hammering the island since Saturday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

A family of five lost their four-bedroom house that they called home for the last seven years when a mango tree and dirt crashed into the dwelling on Monday, crumbling it into pieces.

On Wednesday, a despondent Dellisser Thomas and Sharon Rose-Thomas stood at the roadside staring at the dismantled board house on Fountain Road in Bath, St. Thomas, which they shared with their children.

The couple has lost most of their belongings, such as furniture and some of the children's clothes. At present, the couple and their children are living in a one-room domicile a friend has offered to them.

"All now me still a cry," Mrs. Rose-Thomas said.

The family is victim of persistent rains that have been lashing the island since Saturday.

Mr. Thomas told The Gleaner that, as rain poured on Monday, he did not venture out for work. On Monday afternoon, he was at the hillside home sleeping when he heard a loud shout from a neighbour.

Road broke away

"When I got outside, I only see that the road break away and was pushing a pile a dirt onto the house. So I was running back to the house to turn off the [electricity] breaker when the tree fell into the house," he said.

In the yard, which contains numerous fruit trees, Mr. Thomas said a breadfruit tree was uprooted, landing in front of the house during the passage of Hurricane Dean in August.

He is now searching for - and hoping that he will find - a parcel of land where he can rebuild a house.

"I would never (go back there)," he said, adding that the hillside property is not safe grounds for his family.