Madeira Floods And Mudslides Kill 32

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 there are 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. Television pictures showed muddy torrents coursing down narrow channels and spilling over the sides, roads awash with water and streets littered with debris. The island's airport was closed and Funchal mayor Miguel Albuquerque advised people to stay at home, AFP news agency said. Overnight, strong winds of more than 100 km/h and heavy rain caused flooding and landslides and brought down trees, particularly in southern Madeira, it said. Emergency services were hampered by blocked roads and high seas. British holidaymaker Cathy Sayers told the BBC the capital Funchal was like a ghost-town. She said the infrastructure had been "decimated" by the water cascading down from the hills.