25 killed in storms on Portuguese island

Pereira said civil protection services had reported "25 confirmed deaths up until now," and added that Lisbon was mulling declaring a state of emergency in the region.
He said Lisbon could "then seek help from the European Union."

The island's airport was closed and Funchal mayor Miguel Albuquerque advised residents to stay at home. Several people were injured, local officials said.

The overnight strong winds and heavy rain caused flooding and landslides and brought down trees, particularly in the south of Madeira, a resort island located 900 kilometres southwest of the Portuguese mainland.

Winds exceeding 100 kilometres an hour, high seas and blocked roads had made things more difficult for emergency services, though weathermen said the worst was over in the island, some 500 kilometres from the African coast.

Electricity and telephone networks were severed in many areas.
In Funchal, an elderly woman died when the roof of her house caved in while two others were crushed by a crane, local media reported.