Madeira Floods: Why All These Catastrophes Happen?

4 Mar

Telegraph reported that more than 100 people have been injured in the worst storms in almost two decades, with the number of dead and injured likely to rise even further, officials said. Hundreds of people have been left homeless.

Authorities flew more rescue teams and military engineers from the mainland to help the Atlantic island where a heavy rainstorm on Saturday unleashed floods and mudslides, washing away bridges, blocking roads with rocks and mud and cutting off parts of the island.

As a safety measure UK tourists on the island have been cautioned to stay in their hotels. Less than 5 British people have been taken to hospital. A foreign office spokesman said they are providing consular help and have received no confirmed deaths of Britons so far.However it seems that a 50-year-old British woman is missing and fears for her are grave as she has not been seen since the taxi she was travelling in was swept away. The woman was in a taxi with 3 other passengers. Both of the male passengers are safe but the other female is receiving treatment in hospital.

Portugal is dispatching emergency aid to the autonomous region around 1,000 kilometres away in the Atlantic. Help includes a navy ship with helicopters and medical equipment.The clean-up will take some time, with bridges washed away, trees felled and roads blocked by rocks and mud. And, while no further flash floods are expected, meteorologists say the amount of rainfall on Saturday exceeded the monthly average.

Ramos gave no estimate of the number of people missing, saying these were unreliable as many of the people initially unaccounted for were returning home on Sunday from temporary shelters after being unable to communicate with their families when mobile networks failed.

Regional government leader Alberto Joao Jardim said the authorities were making temporary shelters available for hundreds of people left homeless.The BBC Weather Centre says the severe weather was due to a low pressure system, and that while Madeira can expect further rain with heavy downpours on Sunday, there is no danger of a repeat of the flash floods.

According to dailymail.co.uk the island\’s government said it was finding temporary accommodation for hundreds left homeless by the flooding.Local authorities called in employees to operate heavy machinery like bulldozers to clear roads and remove debris.People in low-lying areas of Funchal fled as flood waters rose, state-run Lusa news agency said.

Guardian reported the storms were the deadliest to hit Madeira since October 1993 when eight people died. Madeira\’s regional president, Alberto Joo Jardim, spoke to European Commission president Jos Manuel Barroso to appeal for emergency aid.

About the author: John Mcgregor is an experienced journalist. Quick Poll: Do you think we should be afraid of a worldwide catastrophe soon? Vote Yes or Vote No . You will obtain a Free $10 Coupon to play Bingo online.

Madeira Floods: Why All These Catastrophes Happen?

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