Madeira floods and mudslides kill 32

[Crostorm]

At least 32 people have been killed in floods and mudslides after torrential rains hit the Portuguese island of Madeira, local authorities say.

Sixty-eight others were reported to have been taken to hospital for treatment on the Atlantic island, which is popular with foreign tourists.

It is not yet clear whether tourists are among the casualties.

The local civil protection service was "overwhelmed" by calls for help, a duty officer told Reuters news agency.

According to Portuguese media, the storms were the deadliest on Madeira since October 1993, when eight people died.
'Ghost town'

The main city, Funchal, and other towns and villages on the south coast are thought to have been worst affected after strong winds and heavy rain early on Saturday caused flooding and landslides.

Television pictures showed muddy torrents coursing down narrow channels and spilling over the sides, roads awash with water and streets littered with debris.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8526288.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8526587.stm




http://www.reuters.com/article/slidesho ... 100220#a=1

[Macrocane]

The death toll has risen up to 40 according to CNN:

At least 40 people were killed and 106 injured by flash flooding and mudslides on the Portuguese island of Madeira, the local civil protection agency said Sunday.

An unknown number of people are still missing, the authorities told CNN. About 250 people were evacuated, according to Portugal's official Lusa News Agency.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/02/21/portugal.mudslide/index.html?hpt=C1