“Madeira floods and mudslides kill 25”

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

Twenty-five people have been killed in floods and mudslides after torrential rains hit the Portuguese island of Madeira, a government minister says.

Sixty-three others were reported have been injured on the Atlantic island, which is popular with foreign tourists.

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

The local civil protection service was "overwhelmed" by calls from people asking for help after the rains, a duty officer told Reuters news agency.

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

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates expressed his "profound shock" at the size of the calamity affecting Madeira, and the authorities promised to organise aid for the autonomous region, Reuters news agency reported.

Interior Minister Rui Pereira said local authorities had reported "25 confirmed deaths" after violent rainstorms on Saturday.

Lisbon was considering declaring a state of emergency in the region, Mr Pereira said.

[Heather Hathwell]

I just saw this on the yahoo headlines page saw Portuguese Island and was astounded. I logged on to see if anyone here had further info. Anything we can do to help? Maybe we should all put some effort in to collectively send anything over.
This is awful.

[Reidar Andersen]

Horrible, anyway, thanks for tip.. Run to TV local time 21.00 ( 3. p.m. Eastern ). No 1, headlinenews Norwegian TV
and at the same time nr. 1 BBC World..

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

That BBC story now starts “At least 32 people have been killed”.

(The BBC will typically update a story as it unfolds for about a day, before starting a new story.)

[Andy Velebil]

OMG, how horrible. My thoughts and prayers go out to them.

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

The BBC Weather Centre says the severe weather was due a low pressure system, and that while Madeira can expect further rain with heavy downpours on Sunday, there is no danger of a repeat of the flash floods.

[Tom Archer]

Dramatic video footage on the TV, with mudslides crashing through towns - dreadful for them..

Any word from the Douro? It's been wet there, and wet enough earlier in the year to bring down a lot of terraces.

Hopefully they havn't suffered more damage...

Tom

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

The Portuguese military has sent specialist rescue teams to the island of Madeira, where at least 32 people are known to have died in rainstorms.

Tonnes of mud and stones were brought down the slopes of the island, flooding the streets of the regional capital, Funchal, and other towns.

Officials fear the death toll could rise. Water, power and phones were cut in some areas.

PM Jose Socrates, who is in Madeira, said he would "do everything to help".

Regional official Francisco Ramos told Portuguese newspaper Publico: "So far we have confirmed 32 deaths but eventually the number may increase."

A Portuguese Navy ship, with a helicopter and medical equipment, has departed for Madeira - which is located about 900km (560miles) from the Portuguese mainland and is popular with foreign tourists.

Officials say the extra emergency teams being sent include 56 military rescuers with search dogs and 36 firefighters.

Interior Minister Rui Pereira, who has also flown to the island, said forensic experts would conduct post-mortem examinations to allow funerals to take place soon.

He added: "We are studying the possibility of declaring a state of emergency and then seeking help from the European Union."

Funchal was among the worst affected areas by Saturday's floods and mudslides.

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

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

The Portuguese military has sent specialist rescue teams to the island of Madeira, where at least 40 people are known to have died in rainstorms.

[Peter Reutter]

I think one thing we can do is to buy more Madeira wine... really.

This will keep the islands economy stable and benefit the people living and working there. Also this might keep some wine folks from turning even more vineyards into building grounds or parking lots. Over the 15 years I know Madeira island, a huge amount of land has been turned into sealed surfaces, giving the rain no way to seep away.

I had wanted to buy some 5YO and 10YO everyday Madeira wines later this year, so I just placed my order today.

I hope things will quickly return to normal.

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

Putting aside the large and growing human cost, we can also hope that not too much of that valuable soil has gone.

[David Spriggs]

Just terrible. The footage I saw was shocking. Funchal was recognizable, just barely. I hope small producers guys like Artur Barros e Sousa are ok.

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

Rescue workers are searching mud-filled streets and houses on the Portuguese island of Madeira after flash floods left at least 42 people dead.

More than 120 others were injured and an unknown number are missing, raising fears that the death toll could rise.

Heavy rains brought tonnes of mud and stones down the slopes of the island, flooding the streets of the regional capital, Funchal, and other towns.

Water, power and telecommunications were cut in some areas.

The weather improved on Sunday following Saturday's rains, making it easier for rescue workers.

But regional social services spokesman Francisco Ramos said there were "great difficulties" in communications and that the death toll "will likely increase, given the circumstances of this flood".

Prime Minister Jose Socrates, on the island, said he was "profoundly shocked" by the severity of the floods, and promised that his government would help Madeira recover as quickly as possible.

The Portuguese military has sent specialist rescue and medical teams to the island.

The Spanish government has offered its help with the rescue effort.

Madeira, which is located about 900km (560miles) from the Portuguese mainland, is popular with foreign tourists.

The Foreign Office in London said a British national had died in the floods, and that a small number of Britons were in hospital on Madeira.

The world's most famous Madeiran, Real Madrid football star Cristiano Ronaldo, said he was "shocked and dismayed" by the floods.

"Nobody can remain indifferent to the disaster," he said. "I want to express my willingness to, as far as I can, help agencies and authorities to overcome the effects of this devastation."

The BBC Weather Centre says the severe weather was due to a low pressure system, and that while Madeira can expect further rain with heavy downpours on Sunday, there is no danger of a repeat of the flash floods.

[Moses Botbol]

Been a decent amount of coverage here do to the Portugal population living here. Just horrible and unfortunate news.

[Roy Hersh]

A terrible and freaky flash flood. That raging water was unreal and hopefully relief efforts will be quicker to Madeira than what took place in Haiti. Very sad!

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

Portugal is expected to announce three days of national mourning following the floods that have hit Madeira island, killing 42 people.

Officials say the announcement will be made at an emergency cabinet meeting convened to discuss the crisis.

Search teams are continuing to look for victims amid debris, after mud and rock swept through towns on Saturday.

Cars were buried, buildings damaged, and people swept along in raging waters through the regional capital, Funchal.

Specialist army teams are working to get through to communities that remain cut off, with roads blocked and bridges collapsed.

There were fears that the death toll could rise, particularly in three remote parts of the island, officials said.

Funchal Mayor Miguel Albuquerque said: "It is very probable that we will find more bodies," AFP news agency reported.

Paramedics and divers have been sent from the Portuguese mainland.

A temporary morgue has been set up at the international airport, which reopened for international flights on Sunday.

More than 120 people were injured in Saturday's rainstorms in which the rainfall exceeded the monthly average, meteorologists said.

Water, power and telecommunications were cut in some areas, with roofs ripped off buildings and roads buckled by the amount of water.

About 250 were made homeless and are staying in temporary shelters.

Prime Minister Jose Socrates, who visited the island on Sunday, said he was "profoundly shocked" by the severity of the floods.

Portugal has requested emergency funds from the EU, and Spain has offered help.

Construction firms on the island offered equipment to rescue teams to help shift the debris.

Madeira, located about 900km (560miles) from the Portuguese mainland, is popular with foreign tourists.

One British woman was killed in the floods, the Foreign Office said, and a small number of Britons were in hospital on Madeira.

[Niklas J]

Well, a planned trip to Madeira took a sad turn on Saturday but when talking with people on the island it now seems that the work to re-establish normal life is going in a rapid speed. Therefore, we will travel to Madeira on Tuesday as planned - I mean, we want to go and what could be better than to actually visit the island. Tourism is needed and a crucial part of the economy for Madeira. Staying home doesn't help them a bit.

Coverage of the trip might change a bit now but I still hope that visits to the producers can be done - as planned. Hopefully none of them has suffered from the flood. Mostly thinking of those situated in the downtown of Funchal, such as Barros, MWC...

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

Good luck with the trip—both good luck to you and to your hosts.

Please do post to this thread what damage you see, and indeed, what appears undamaged.

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

The BBC: In pictures: Madeira flood aftermath.

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

The BBC interviews somebody who has been watching local television.