Portugal rushes aid to storm-hit Madeira

The Portuguese government is sending emergency aid for Madeira after rainstorms killed at least 32 people on the Atlantic island.

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates has expressed his shock at the disaster and promised support for the islanders.

Madeira is the main island of a Portuguese archipelago of the same name in the Atlantic Ocean, off the north-west coast of Africa.

AdvertisementFloods swept away cars and tore down houses as the storm hit early yesterday. Roads were blocked by fallen trees as winds exceeded 100km/ph and some bridges also collapsed.

Some phone lines have been disabled forcing the emergency services to appeal over local radio stations for off-duty doctors and nurses to report for duty.

Madeira's regional president Alberto Joao Jardim has appealed for emergency aid from the European Union.

The Portuguese naval frigate Corte-Real set off from Lisbon for Madeira yesterday with helicopters, a medical team and relief supplies.

Also en route are two helicopters and two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

A rescue team of 56 police and 36 firefighters left Lisbon for the island's capital Funchal this morning.

'We are studying the possibility of declaring a state of emergency and then seeking help from the European Union,' Interior Minister Rui Pereira said.

Source:rte.ie/