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Majorca flash floods kill at least five
MADRID, Oct 10, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – At least five people have died and several
others are missing in flash flooding on the holiday island of Majorca,
emergency services and the regional government said Wednesday.
On Twitter, emergency services in the Balearic Islands said four people
had died in Sant Llorenc des Cardassar, a village inland, and a fifth person
in S’Illot on the coast.
“Several are missing,” a spokeswoman for the emergency services added,
without giving further details.
The flooding happened after the island was hit by pounding rain in the
space of a few hours on Tuesday, the regional government said on Twitter. The
worst hit area lies 60 kilometres (37 miles) east of the capital Palma de
Majorca.
Footage broadcast by Spanish television and local media showed cars swept
away by raging waters and houses flooded.
Rescue workers toiled overnight to look for missing people.
Around 100 extra emergency workers were dispatched from the Spanish
mainland, along with two helicopters, eight vehicles and search dogs, the
country’s emergency military unit said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted his “solidary and support for
the relatives and friends of the victims, and for all those affected by this
tragic flooding.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/1437 hrs