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Majorca flash flood kills at least nine on Spanish island Majorca flash flood kills at least 10 on Spanish island
(about 3 hours later)
At least nine people, including two Britons, have died and others are missing after flash flooding on the Spanish island of Majorca. At least 10 people, including two Britons, have died and a child is missing after flash flooding on the Spanish island of Majorca.
A huge wave of muddy water engulfed the town of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, in the east of the island, after a river burst its banks following heavy rain.A huge wave of muddy water engulfed the town of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, in the east of the island, after a river burst its banks following heavy rain.
Vehicles were swept away as water gushed through narrow streets.Vehicles were swept away as water gushed through narrow streets.
The Spanish military is deploying more than 100 emergency workers along with sniffer dogs to help rescue efforts. The Spanish military deployed more than 100 emergency workers along with sniffer dogs to help rescue efforts.
The neighbouring islands of Ibiza and Formentera have been put under alert as heavy rainstorms move towards them. The neighbouring islands of Ibiza and Formentera were put on alert as heavy rainstorms moved in.
Who are the victims?Who are the victims?
A spokesman for the Spanish government told the AFP news agency on Wednesday that the death toll had risen to nine. Emergency services confirmed the deaths of 10 people and said a five-year-old boy remained unaccounted for. Earlier reports that several other people were missing were later discounted.
He also said at least six more people were known to be missing. Worst affected was the town of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, where cars were swept away by the force of the flooding. A British couple travelling in a taxi were killed, as was the driver.
Among the fatalities in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar were a British couple who were swept away while travelling in a taxi, El Pais reports. The driver remains missing, the newspaper adds. A woman who had been in her car with her two young children also died. As the waters rose, she managed to get her eight-year-old daughter to safety, but she was unable to save her son aged five. He was still missing on Wednesday.
The UK's Foreign Office said it was "urgently seeking updates" from Spanish authorities following news of the devastating floods. One survivor told the local Diario de Mallorca website that he had had to climb out of his car window to get to safety. "I swam 500 metres [1,650 ft] through the torrent until I got to a house," said Manuel Torrescusa.
Two more local people were killed in the town, along with three further victims who died in the coastal town of S'illot. Three other victims died in the coastal town of S'illot.
Emergency services said on Twitter a ninth victim had been found dead - but did not confirm the circumstances. The UK's Foreign Office said it was "urgently seeking updates" from Spanish authorities following news of the British couple.
The area was hit with more than 8in (20cm) of rainfall in just a few hours on Tuesday, according to Spanish meteorological agency Aemet.The area was hit with more than 8in (20cm) of rainfall in just a few hours on Tuesday, according to Spanish meteorological agency Aemet.
A senior official from the San Llorenç mayor's office told a local radio station that more than 180 litres of rain had fallen in just two hours, describing the situation as a "disaster". A senior official from the Sant Llorenç mayor's office told a local radio station that more than 180 litres of rain had fallen in just two hours, describing the situation as a "disaster". One Aemet official said such intense conditions of torrential and localised rain occurred only every 80 years.
A bridge came down further north on the island in Artà, where an ex-mayor of the town was killed by the flooding.
What efforts are being made to help people?What efforts are being made to help people?
A regional government says about 400 emergency workers are working to find the missing and help those affected by the flooding. More than 600 emergency workers were working to help those affected by the flooding, officials said.
Refuges have been set up in a local sports centre to provide shelter for displaced residents. Refuges were set up in a local sports centre to provide shelter for displaced residents.
"What is most urgent right now is to find missing people and address the concerns of their relatives and all neighbours," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said while visiting the area on Wednesday. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the area on Wednesday, and the Spanish parliament held a minute's silence.
He had earlier tweeted his condolences to the victims, and the Spanish parliament also held a minute's silence. Torrential rain hit other areas of Spain too, with Catalonia in the north-east and Málaga in the south among the areas badly hit.
In December 2016, southern Spain was hit with severe weather resulting in widespread flooding and several deaths. Streets in towns near Malaga on the Costa del Sol experienced chest-high water levels.
Are you in the area? If it is safe to do so please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the area? If it is safe to do so please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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