Majorca flash flood kills at least eight on Spanish island
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Loading... - Carmina Santos
- 10 Oct 2021
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At least eight people including two Britons have died and a number of others are missing after flash flooding on the Spanish island of Majorca.
A huge wave of muddy water engulfed the town of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, in the east of the island, after a river burst its banks following heavy rain.
Vehicles were swept away as water gushed through narrow streets.
The Spanish military is deploying more than 100 emergency workers and sniffer dogs.
Three helicopters and a Hercules military transport plane are being sent from the mainland Spanish city of Valencia to help with search and rescue efforts.
Who are the victims?
Among the fatalities in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar were a British couple who were swept away while travelling in a taxi, El Pais reports (in Spanish). The driver remains missing, the newspaper adds.
The UK's Foreign Office said it was "urgently seeking updates" from Spanish authorities following news of the devastating floods.
Two more local people were killed in the town, along with three further victims who died in the coastal town of S'illot.
The area was hit with more than 8in (20cm) of rainfall in just a few hours on Tuesday, according to Spanish meteorological agency Aemet.
What efforts are being made to help people?
A refuge was set up at the Miguel Ángel Nadal sports centre in the town of Manacor to provide shelter for displaced residents.
Local authorities called an emergency meeting to co-ordinate the rescue efforts on Wednesday following the heavy rains.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez tweeted: "My solidarity and support goes out to the families and friends of victims and all those affected by these tragic floods."
Mr Sánchez will visit the areas affected by flooding later on Wednesday.
The Spanish parliament held a minute's silence in a tribute to the victims.
In December 2016, southern Spain was hit with severe weather resulting in widespread flooding and several deaths. Streets in towns near Malaga on the Costa del Sol experienced chest-high water levels.
