Portugal to mourn Madeira flood and mudslide victims

Portugal braced for three days of national mourning after at least 42 people die in floods and mudslides in Madeira

Tweet

Print Share

 

Also In The News

Redknapp: Spurs not soft touches away from home
By Darren Estwick.

• Wigan 0-3 Tottenham
• Button hits top as testing in Jerez comes to close
• Gordon Brown: I have never hit anyone in my life

 

Monday, 22, Feb 2010 10:13

By Matthew Champion.

Portugal is to announce three days of national mourning after at least 42 people died on the island of Madeira from floods and mudslides caused by a violent rainstorm that struck on Saturday.

Torrential rain sent streams of water and mud surging through Funchal, the capital of Madeira, which is 1,000km (625 miles) south-west of Lisbon.

The extreme weather saw the island in virtual lockdown over the weekend as Funchal airport was closed, roads blocked, telephone lines downed and residents warned to stay indoors.

On Monday the death-toll from the extreme weather rose to 42, with more than 150 people injured. It has been confirmed that a British tourist, whose next of kin have been informed, is among the dead.

Portuguese prime minister Jose Socrates, who was due to arrive in Madeira on Sunday with interior minister Rui Pereira to help coordinate aid, said: "I am absolutely saddened and shocked with the images, with the consequences of this calamity."

inthenews.co.uk reporter Sarah Garrod was on a Madeira-bound plane when the island was in the grip of the worst of the storms.

"Our plane made two failed attempts to land at Funchal before deciding to head to Porto Santo. Close to landing the pilot had to give up because of poor visibility," she said last night.

"We have now been brought to Tenerife with many other passengers, including babies and the elderly although we have been told our flight will be heading back to Funchal tomorrow morning.

"The weather conditions in the air were really quite dreadful, with strong turbulence. One passenger went into shock and had to receive medical treatment once we had landed and numerous others were ill while we were in the air.

"Since arriving in Tenerife we have been unable to make contact with anyone in Madeira because the mainline phones are down."