At least five people have died in severe flooding on the Spanish island of Majorca, with two British nationals confirmed among the victims. The deaths occurred after torrential rain caused flash floods that swept away cars and inundated homes, forcing some residents to seek refuge on their roofs.
Local authorities confirmed the British victims were travelling in a taxi that was swept away by the floodwaters. A spokeswoman for the emergency services said the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and no further details on the victims' ages or destinations have been released.
The number of missing persons has been revised down to eight after the discovery of a sixth victim, who was among those previously unaccounted for. A Civil Guard spokesman stated that search efforts are focused on riverbeds and coastal areas, but warned that the presence of wreckage and submerged cars is complicating the operation.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to travel to the disaster zone later today. A military emergency response unit has been deployed from Valencia to assist with rescue and recovery operations.
The floods also caused widespread disruption, with schools closed in affected areas due to power cuts, and around 100 people spending the night in a sports centre in Manacor. Heavy rain has also affected other parts of Spain, including Barcelona and the Costa del Sol, where red alerts remain in place.
