Heavy rains cause Severe Flooding in southern Portugal
Pastor Dale Morgan
Heavy rains cause Severe Flooding in southern Portugal*
LISBON, Nov 3 (AFP) Nov 03, 2006
Severe and Heavy rain on Friday caused flooding, cut roads and led
several schools to cancel classes in Portugal's southernmost province of
Algarve, one of Europe's top tourism destinations, officials said.
There were no reports of injuries., but between 15 to 20 families in the
town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, located 300 kilometres (180 miles)
southeast of Lisbon on the border with Spain, had to be rehoused because
of the damage done to their homes, local mayor Luis Gomes told TSF news
radio.
Water levels rose up to two metres (6.6 feet) in some areas, flooding
homes, restaurants, stores and hotel basements in the town as well is in
nearby resorts of Altura, Monte Gordo and Vila Nova de Cacela, emergency
services workers said.
"There was a heavy amount of rain in a very short amount of time," Vila
Real de Santo Antonio firefighter Eduardo Bonanca told the radio station.
Vila Real de Santo Antonio received over 60 millimeters of rain within a
five-hour period on Friday morning, the national weather office said.