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AWAITING NEWS: Gogglebox's Sandra Martin

GOGGLEBOX STAR Sandra Martin says she is desperate to hear from family in Dominica after a tropical storm hit the island killing four.

The Channel 4 star, famous for her infectious laugh on the reality TV show, says she is yet to get any news from her loved ones following Thursday’s storm (Aug 27).

She told The Voice: “I don’t know anything at the moment. All blood families are still waiting to hear.”

Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Erika have caused devastation on the Caribbean island, leaving at least four people dead and more than 20 missing, authorities said.

The storm is expected to reach hurricane strength as it approaches South Florida on Monday (Aug 31).

The reality TV star spent the morning on Twitter retweeting posts from fellow British Dominicans who began circulating the #PrayForDominica hashtag.

Dominica's Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said Erika caused "extensive damage" across the small island after floods wiped out roads and swamped villages.

DEVASTATION: A boat sits in shallow water as Tropical Storm Erika passes through New Town, Dominica on Thursday (Aug 27).

He expressed particular concern for Petite Savanne, a community hit by mudslides that rescuers haven't been able to reach yet.

"This is where many are feared lost," Skerrit said.

The immediate focus for authorities is on search-and-rescue efforts, with other countries in the region providing helicopters and other assistance.

Skerrit said the task of repairing Dominica's "dramatically affected" infrastructure would come later, estimating that the cost of fixing homes, roads, bridges and other structures would run into tens of millions of dollars.

Erika was expected to produce rainfall of 4 to 8 inches - with a maximum of 12 inches possible - across parts of the Leeward Islands (which can include Dominica), the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeast Bahamas through Saturday (Aug 29).

"These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.