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Floods, Mudslides Kill 40 on Portuguese Island

   Officials say the death toll could still rise

   VOA News 21 February 2010
   A man is helped while trying to cross a flooded street in Funchal, the
   Madeira Island's capital, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010

Photo: AP

   A man is helped while trying to cross a flooded street in Funchal, the
   Madeira Island's capital, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010

   Portuguese  rescue  workers  dug frantically through homes and streets
   buried  under heaps of mud in the resort island of Madeira after flash
   floods  and  mudslides killed at least 40 people and injured more than
   100.
   Rescue  workers  and military personnel flew from mainland Portugal to
   the  Atlantic island to help with the efforts. Regional social affairs
   secretary  Francisco  Ramos  told reporters Sunday that the death toll
   could still rise.
   He said there are no estimates on the number of people missing.
   Local  media  said  heavy rain and winds up to 100 kilometers per hour
   struck  the  island  Saturday  night, knocking down trees and blocking
   roads with debris, hampering rescue efforts.
   The  popular  tourist  destination  is  located  about  900 kilometers
   southwest of mainland Portugal.
   It  was  not  immediately clear if any tourists were among the storms'
   victims.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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