At least 10 people are dead and at least one missing after flash floods swept across the island of Majorca on Tuesday.
Torrential rain caused a riverbank to burst, sending water through the town of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, about 40 miles outside of Palma. The overflowing water dragged cars down the street and damaged hundreds of houses with intense flooding, according to El Pais.
Several people died in flash floods in Majorca island, Sant Llorenc, Spain – 10 Oct 2018 Credit: PABLO D F YouTube Channel/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Local weather forecasters reported that about eight inches of rain fell in four hours. The threat is still not over as forecaster are predicting more heavy rain through the end of the day Wednesday.
One British tourist couple is included in those found dead. They were in the back of a taxi when the water swept away their car and filled up the vehicle. Their taxi driver died as well.
"We did not expect it, the warning went from yellow to orange in a short time, Catalina Cladera, the minister of finance and public administration, told El Pais. “Too much water fell in a very short time.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, five roads remain blocked, according to the New York Times. Emergency services are working to clear debris from the area.
Several people died in flash floods in Majorca island, Sant Llorenc, Spain – 10 Oct 2018 Credit: ARGENTINA SANCHEZ/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Hundreds of people were displaced during the storm and remain in emergency shelters around the area.
The capital and main tourism hub, Palma, was spared from the storm. Damage is mostly restricted to the northeastern side of Majorca.