New Laws of Commercial Registration and Trade Names take effect on Thursday    Civil Defense warns of heavy rains across Saudi Arabia until Monday    Saudi Exchange suspends trading of seven companies over financial disclosure delays    New fleet of 76 public transport buses starts operation in Jeddah on Tuesday Environmentally friendly electric buses introduced for first time    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    EU preparing 'further countermeasures' to protect its interest, von der Leyen says    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Israel announces expansion of military operation in Gaza to seize 'large areas' of land    US cancels visa of Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias    Danish prime minister refutes US claim on Greenland on visit to the Arctic territory    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Cristiano Ronaldo joins Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves    Saudi Arabia welcomes trilateral border treaty between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan    Swedish table tennis legend Jörgen Persson appointed head coach of Saudi national team    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Portugal landslides death toll rises to 40
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 21 - 02 - 2010

The death toll from mudslides and flash flooding on the Portuguese island of Madeira rose to 40 people Sunday as the government rushed emergency aid to the resort haven. More than 120 others were injured and an unknown number were missing, authorities said.
Heavy rain lashed the island Saturday, turning some streets in capital of Funchal into raging rivers of mud, water and debris, AP reported.
The death toll «will likely increase given the circumstances of this flood,» regional social services spokesman Francisco Ramos said, adding that there were «great difficulties» in communications.
Ramos said the search for bodies will continue and that officials were «waiting for teams from the mainland to continue working on the ground.» The initial death toll given Saturday was 32 people killed.
The heavy rain _ the worst storm to hit the island since 1993 _ also displaced 250 people.
Some residents had to hold onto railings or any sturdy object they could find so they weren't swept away by the torrents. A number of cars were consumed by the force of the water, and the battered shells of overturned vehicles littered the streets. Rescue workers wearing helmets helped people cross at places where the flow of the water wasn't so strong. A fire truck appeared to have slammed into a tree and rescuers on inflatable rafts navigated through streets looking for trapped residents.
Prime Minister Jose Socrates said he was «profoundly shocked» by the severity of the mudslides. He promised the government would provide help to ensure Madeira could begin recovery work as quickly as possible.
Some roads and bridges have been washed away while others are littered with uprooted trees, swept away cars and boulders, all hampering search and rescue efforts.
The weather improved Sunday, making it easier for rescue workers to move around.
A medical team backed up by divers and rescue experts was being sent Sunday aboard a C-130 transport plane to the archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, 550 miles (900 kilometers) southwest of Lisbon. The plane was also carrying telecommunications equipment to help repair damage, since the flash floods that swept down the mountainous island ripped out phone lines.
Army units based on the island mobilized rescue teams and two helicopters.
«Debris removal, personnel carriers and bridge specialist teams have been deployed,» the army statement said.
Madeira is the main island of a Portuguese archipelago of the same name, in the Atlantic off the northwest coast of Africa. The island is popular with British tourists.
Britain's Foreign Office said Sunday a «small number» of Britons had been hospitalized on Madeira. It did not provide further details, but added the government had not heard of any British fatalities.


Clic here to read the story from its source.