FUNCHAL (Portugal).- Flash floods unleashed torrents of mud which filled houses and destroyed bridges, killed at least 40 people and injured more than 100 on the Portuguese island of Madeira, officials said yesterday.

Heavy rain lashed the island on Saturday, turning some streets in the main city of Funchal into raging rivers of mud, water and debris.

Mainland Portugal rushed medical teams, rescuers, divers and relief supplies to the tourist island. Pathologists sent out a grim warning that more bodies would be found in the mud that swept people off their feet as they tried to escape.

The rains ended yesterday, revealing scenes of devastation in Funchal, with cars overturned and roofs ripped off buildings. Power and telephone lines were torn down but the international airport started allowing flights again.

The death toll 'will likely increase, given the circumstances of this flood', regional social services spokesman Francisco Ramos said, adding that there were 'great difficulties' in communications.

'We are going to continue to search for bodies, we are waiting for the teams which are due to arrive... in order to continue working on the ground,' he said.