Floods kill at least 32 on Madeira

[cory777]

Source: Reuters

Duarte Sa
FUNCHAL, Portugal
Sat Feb 20, 2010 5:09pm EST

FUNCHAL, Portugal (Reuters) - At least 32 people have been killed by torrents of water and mud unleashed by a violent rainstorm on the Portuguese resort island of Madeira, officials said on Saturday.

The deluge felled trees, washed away bridges, blocked roads with rocks and mud and cut off parts of the Atlantic island, a popular tourist destination about 1,000 km (625 miles) southwest of Lisbon.

"The areas of Funchal and Ribeira Brava suffered from major floods and mudslides, and that's where we have most of the 32 dead. Some people are also unaccounted for," said Pedro Barbosa, deputy chief of the regional civil protection service in Madeira's capital Funchal.

"Now the weather conditions have improved and we are starting to evaluate the damage," he told Reuters.

Alberto Joao Jardim, the leader of the regional government , said 68 people were in hospital emergency wards and the government was making temporary shelters available for several hundred people left homeless.

Roaring streams of water and mud from the hills above Funchal coursed through the streets of the town, dragging and overturning cars and vans. Three underground parking levels at a shopping mall were completely flooded, but it had been evacuated in time.

"I am absolutely saddened and shocked with the images, with the consequences of this calamity," Prime Minister Jose Socrates said.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61J2ME20100220

[defendandprotect]

1. Anyone from Portugal here at DU?

[puebloknot]

2. No, but when I was 15 years old ...

... a ship lay at anchor off the shore of Madeira, and I and my family went ashore and spent a day on the island. My father was in the military, and we were returning home to the U.S. after a three-year stay in Germany.

We were on the U.S.S. Constitution, and it was Christmas Eve. My father had a new camera and he rested it on a railing and did a time-elapsed photo of a church onshore that was lit up for the occasion. When he had the film developed, we all had a laugh because he forgot to take into account the fact that the ship was moving with the waves, and he had only waves of light across the film.

We had a grand adventure going down a rock-paved lane in a wicker sled, with two men holding back its progress with ropes. That was a "faith-based" journey down the hill because we had to rely on the expertise (and the muscle) of the guys holding back what would have been a plunge down the hill without them.

I still have a gold charm bracelet my parents bought for me that day, with various emblems of the culture.

So when I heard about this tragedy today, I was taken back in time to a very pleasant adventure from my youth. My heart goes out to all the people on the island.

[defendandprotect]

3. My sister ....

currently lives in Ireland but was vacationing in Portugal for a month --

Just heard from her -- she had just arrived home -- fine and well.

They had been in a resort area -- Algarve area and I wasn't sure about where

the problems were.

She said they had had only 6 days of rain and temperatures in the 60's!

Sad news -- beautiful country!

And your story was lovely to read!

Thank you!

[puebloknot]

6. Well, I have an Ireland story, too!

We were flying to Europe when I was 12 because my father was stationed in Mainz.

We landed at Shannon Airport, and I recall looking out the window of the plane at a patchwork green wonder down below.

I remember that the tables in the airport restaurant were covered with white linen, and the waiter was friendly.

We landed there twice because 20 minutes out, there was engine trouble and we had to turn back.

We made it to Frankfurt on the last flight of Seaboard and Western Airlines before they went belly up (financially)! Whew!

And that's all I've ever seen of Ireland. But my Irish blood is calling for another trip there before I leave the planet. My daughter is an award-winning Irish dancer (of the Riverdance variety), so we both want to visit the Emerald Isle together. There's a family legend that a great-grandfather was a mathematician at Dublin University. The relatives say he invented long division. But I rather imagine they kissed the Blarney Stone because I think maybe the Arabs did that. :)

Some people think being an army brat is traumatic and sad. Some of those people are therapists. They need their heads examined. Seeing all the parts of the world I've seen as a disadvanted military dependent is golden! :) A whole life behind a picket fence on Maple Street is probably a nice way to live, but I prefer adventure!

Cheers! And glad your sister is safe.

[defendandprotect]

7. My sister is the traveler . . .

I love being somewhere new, but hate traveling --

My Mom's family came from Ireland -- Grandmother from Tipperary --

Grandather from Kilarney and left from Dublin. Met here in America -- 1900.

My Mom had never visited Ireland -- she went back with my sister as a 94 year old to

live there and died a year later -- had wonderful care in Ireland.

Her Mom and Dad are buried in America -- she is buried in Ireland. Ironic!

My sister's husband is one of 11 siblings -- most of them still in Ireland --

he's been in America all his life since 16-17 year old and just returned a few years ago

to live there. Tremendous courage to do make these moves, IMO.




:)

[KamaAina]

10. The Algarve is on the Portuguese mainland

Madeira is an island a couple of humdred miles offshore.

[truedelphi]

4. Thank you for sharing that story. It made that place

Real for those of us who have never been to Portugal.

[puebloknot]

5. That story is among my fondest memories. nt

[happyslug]

8. Must have ben on the SS Constitution, for the USS Constitution hasn't been to Europe since 1878

SS Constitution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Constitution

USS Constitution:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution

[puebloknot]

9. Hah! Yes, I stand corrected! :)

I saw a documentary about the Titantic sometime in the last year, offering new theories about why it sank. Seeing that took me back to my youth, and that Atlantic voyage on a luxury liner. So I decided to look up SS Constitution and her sister ship, SS Independence, and I discovered that SS Constitution was being retired and towed to her final resting place when she sank before reaching her heavenly home!

Weird feeling to know a ship you once sailed on is down in Davy Jones' Locker!

Thanks for the correction because I don't want the whole DU community to think I'm even older than I am! :)