(NECN/ABC) - Portugal's Madeira Island is a disaster zone Monday morning, after a horrific storm that triggered powerful flooding and deadly mudslides.
Rescuers are digging through the mud in search of survivors or more victims.
As the storm struck, the flood engulfed everything in its path.
Roads collapsed, buildings were damaged and people were left in shock.
Officials have said that a months worth of rain fell on the island in just eight hours, the worst in living memory.
At least 42 people have been killed but the number is likely to rise.
Local
There are fears that many more bodies are still buried in the mud or may have even been swept out to sea.
Specialist army teams were deployed, to rescue as many people as quickly as possible, in the face of enormous difficulties.
Bad weather continues to afflict the popular tourist destination, and the infrastructure is still fragile.
250 have been left homeless by the flooding and are taking refuge in temporary shelters and over 120 other are being treated for injuries in hospital
ABC News reporter Sonia Gallego is in London with the latest.
