Majorca floods: British couple among eight people dead after taxi swept away in devastating flash flooding

A British couple were killed when “biblical” flash floods swamped the taxi they were travelling in on the holiday island of Majorca.

The couple, reportedly tourists, are among at least eight people killed in the deluge in and around Sant Llorenc des Cardassar, where television show Love Island is filmed.

A further nine people are still missing after the overnight downpours, according to newspaper Diario de Mallorca.

A spokeswoman for a local emergency services coordinator said earlier: “Five people including two British nationals have died.

Flash floods affecting the village of Sant Llorenc des Cardasar, in Mallorca
EPA

"The British victims were travelling in a taxi that was swept away by flash floods. Their bodies were found inside the vehicle. Our work now is focused on searching for missing people.”

Flash flooding in Majorca has left at least five people dead, including a British couple

The British couple are thought to have died in the town of S’Illot at just after 8pm yesterday, when a small river burst its banks. Shocking images circulating on social media showed cars being swept through streets and homes submerged as residents clung to rooftops.

Fatal Flash Flooding in Majorca - In pictures

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A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are in contact with the Spanish authorities responding to flooding in Majorca, and seeking updates.”

Cars were submerged in the devastating floods
EPA

The taxi driver is understood to have been working for a cab firm called Radio Taxi Cala Millor. A receptionist confirmed a foreign couple’s bodies had been found inside the vehicle and rescuers were still searching for the driver.

Two of the deaths occurred in Sant Llorenc, a fifth person died in the town of Arta, and the sixth was found in a stream in S’Illot, Diario de Mallorca reported.

Flash floods in Majorca have killed five people

Former mayor of Arta, 71-year-old Rafel Gili - father of the town’s current mayor - was today named as one of the six fatalities.

It is thought he was trapped in a car mechanic’s workshop in Sant Llorenc when floodwaters hit.

Two police officers search for victims in the beach of Sillot, in Mallorca
EPA

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez was visiting the disaster zone today and pledged his support for the victims’ friends and family.

He said: “My solidarity and support goes out to the families and friends of victims and all those affected by these tragic floods.”

Two Brits were among those killed as devastating flooding swept cars away
EPA

A military emergency response unit, including three helicopters and a military Hercules plane, has been sent from its base in Valencia on the mainland to help with the crisis, along with 80 soldiers joining more than 100 emergency workers with sniffer dogs.

The Foreign Office said it was "urgently seeking updates" from Spanish authorities about the deaths of the British couple.

Spanish weather forecasters said eight inches of rain fell in four hours, while locals today said Sant Llorenc remained virtually cut off and could only be reached by foot.

One resident told Diario de Majorca she had to climb out of a window to escape her home due to the speed of the rising floodwaters.

Schools in the area suspended classes because of power cuts, while around 100 people spent the night at a council-run sports centre in the nearby city of Manacor.

Catalina Cladera, in charge of public administration for the regional government, described the situation as “Dantesque”.

She said: “We weren’t expecting it.

“The alert went from yellow to orange in a very short space of time.

“A massive amount of rain has fallen in very little time.”

Heavy rain also brought chaos to other parts of Spain including Barcelona, where parts of the Tube service were temporarily suspended.

Rescue workers at the scene in Majorca on Tuesday night
EPA

The Costa del Sol also remained on red alert with warnings of further downpours to come.

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