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Using their phones to provide lighting, scores of residents from the August Town community scoured through the gully that leads to Hope River in search of nine-year-old Kyle Richards who is believed to have been washed away by a raging torrent yesterday afternoon.

The look of disappointment and anguish was visible on their faces as they searched for the youngster who was on his way home to Gold Smith Villa when tragedy struck.

"Is like a history repeat itself. About 20 years ago, the same thing happen to two other children from the community and now this. Mi feel it to mi bottom a mi heart. Is a jovial little bwoy and mi always see him a come home a evening time. The gully did really come over hard dis evening (yesterday) so it would a hard fi him find him way home. Light did all go weh for a while and it never come back until to 8, so that kinda make it difficult too, " a man told the news team.

According to police reports, the youngster, who attends Hope Valley Experimental School, was in the company of his aunt and three other children when he was swept away by the current.

searching the area

Among the search team was Inspector Claudia Bailey-Finlayson, who stated that the police had got reports of the incident about 3:45 p.m. and they have been searching the area since.

"Information received is that the aunt of the child was taking them home from school and they took a shortcut which leads to Gold Smith Villa. The aunt had two of the children in her arms, another in front of her and Kyle was at the back. He was playing in the water by the culvert and she told him to stop and come on and by the time she turned around, he was swept away," she said.

"Since the incident was reported, we have been searching the entire gully that starts at Mona Road and ends in the Hope River along with residents, the political representative and the fire brigade. We are doing a really extensive search that stretches as far as Harbour View and Bull Bay and the marine police are also on board," she said.

The police said the search for little Kyle would resume today.

The heavy rainfall that has been impacting the island over the last four days has caused flooding in several parishes.

Yesterday, the Meteorological Service issued a flash flood watch for low-lying areas.