**Twenty-five people have been killed in floods and mudslides after torrential rains hit the Portuguese island of Madeira, a government minister says.**Sixty-three others were reported have been injured on the Atlantic island, which is popular with foreign tourists.
It is not yet clear whether there are tourists are among the casualties.
The local civil protection service was “overwhelmed” by calls from people asking for help after the rains, a duty officer told Reuters news agency.
Television pictures showed muddy torrents coursing down narrow channels and spilling over the sides, roads awash with water and streets littered with debris.
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates expressed his “profound shock” at the size of the calamity affecting Madeira, and the authorities promised to organise aid for the autonomous region, Reuters news agency reported.
Interior Minister Rui Pereira said local authorities had reported “25 confirmed deaths” after violent rainstorms on Saturday.
Lisbon was considering declaring a state of emergency in the region, Mr Pereira said.
Do you live in the area Have you been affected by the floods and mudslides Are you visiting the island
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