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Rescue teams work round the clock in Madeira | Rescue teams work round the clock in Madeira |
(about 9 hours later) | |
by Robert Hall BBC News, Madeira Flood waters and mudslides have torn the heart out of Madeira's capital | by Robert Hall BBC News, Madeira Flood waters and mudslides have torn the heart out of Madeira's capital |
Along the seafront in Funchal, a wide palm-fringed avenue borders the harbour, normally the perfect place for a holiday stroll, but there are no sightseers tonight... just gangs of weary salvage workers, and a constant rumble of heavy machinery. | Along the seafront in Funchal, a wide palm-fringed avenue borders the harbour, normally the perfect place for a holiday stroll, but there are no sightseers tonight... just gangs of weary salvage workers, and a constant rumble of heavy machinery. |
Round the clock, the efforts to clear tonnes of mud and rock carried down from the mountains has been unceasing. | Round the clock, the efforts to clear tonnes of mud and rock carried down from the mountains has been unceasing. |
In Funchal's deserted shopping centre, hoses thread through the narrow streets where residents are still trying to gain access to ruined and waterlogged buildings. | In Funchal's deserted shopping centre, hoses thread through the narrow streets where residents are still trying to gain access to ruined and waterlogged buildings. |
They're getting on with the clear-up, but there's a kind of darkness hanging over the city, it's so sad | They're getting on with the clear-up, but there's a kind of darkness hanging over the city, it's so sad |
The flood waters have torn the heart out of Madeira's capital. The local paper carries one banner headline: "Devastation." | The flood waters have torn the heart out of Madeira's capital. The local paper carries one banner headline: "Devastation." |
This is an island especially popular with British visitors, who have always received a warm welcome. | This is an island especially popular with British visitors, who have always received a warm welcome. |
Now, standing in the heavy rain showers, they can barely believe what has unfolded around them. | Now, standing in the heavy rain showers, they can barely believe what has unfolded around them. |
One woman told me: "They're getting on with the clear-up, but there's a kind of darkness hanging over the city, it's so sad." | One woman told me: "They're getting on with the clear-up, but there's a kind of darkness hanging over the city, it's so sad." |
Just outside the capital, the scene of one tragedy is closed to public view. | Just outside the capital, the scene of one tragedy is closed to public view. |
Pamela Gaines, from East Yorkshire in the UK, was travelling in a taxi with her husband, and two friends, when it was carried away by floodwater, killing her. | |
The taxi driver also lost his life. | The taxi driver also lost his life. |
Slow progress | Slow progress |
Help is arriving - a warship and extra troops to help restore infrastructure and communications. | Help is arriving - a warship and extra troops to help restore infrastructure and communications. |
But more heavy rain has hampered the teams who are making slow progress towards isolated communities in the mountains around Funchal, some of which remain cut off. | But more heavy rain has hampered the teams who are making slow progress towards isolated communities in the mountains around Funchal, some of which remain cut off. |
A second major operation centres on an underground car park near the capital's commercial centre. Divers have been carrying out searches amid fears that some of the missing have been trapped. | A second major operation centres on an underground car park near the capital's commercial centre. Divers have been carrying out searches amid fears that some of the missing have been trapped. |
Madeira's government has once again warned that the death toll here could rise still further. | Madeira's government has once again warned that the death toll here could rise still further. |
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