Madeira locates 19 people who had been missing, looks for 13 others after flash floods

Madeira: 19 missing people located, are fine

LISBON, Portugal — Authorities in Madeira say 19 people who had been reported missing have now been located and are fine after weekend landslides that killed dozens in the Portuguese island’s worst disaster in living memory.

Officials said Tuesday that 13 other people are still unaccounted for. Rescue teams with sniffer dogs, Navy divers and bulldozers have been involved in the search.

The official death toll from Saturday’s flash floods is 42.

Authorities are checking whether bodies might be trapped in drains, in piles of debris or in submerged underground parking lots. Officials suspect some of the missing may have been swept out to sea by the muddy torrents.

Portugal is observing three days of mourning for the victims.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

FUNCHAL, Madeira Islands (AP) — Emergency crews in Madeira are looking for 32 people still missing four days after weekend landslides that claimed dozens of lives in the Portuguese island’s worst disaster in living memory.

Authorities have confirmed the flash foods killed at least 42 people.

Rescue teams with sniffer dogs, Navy divers and bulldozers are involved search operations Tuesday.

Authorities are checking whether bodies might be trapped in piles of debris or in submerged underground parking lots.

But officials suspect the missing may have been swept out to sea when torrents poured down the Atlantic island’s steep slopes.

Portugal is observing three days of mourning for the victims.