Leyla Abreu has lived in Guernsey since the age of three but has many relatives in flood and mudslide-hit Madeira. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0922078)

MADEIRANS living in Guernsey yesterday spoke of their shock after mudslides swept the Portuguese island on Saturday.

Portugal yesterday announced three days of national mourning after at least 42 people were killed in the disaster and some 120 were injured.

Business change analyst Leyla Abreu has lived in Guernsey for 24 years but her grandparents and extended family live in Madeira, which lies 350 miles out in the Atlantic off Morocco.

Her grandmother has been unable to leave her house for the last few days and her uncle’s sister-in-law, a family friend, lost her house.

‘All she is left with are the clothes she was wearing,’ said Miss Abreu. ‘At the moment she is in a shelter hoping an update will be received soon as to where she is going to live.’

Miss Abreu said the flash floods had been a shock – the island is normally blessed with beautiful weather.

The capital, Funchal, was badly hit – three rivers that cross it in channels overflowed when torrents of water washed down the steep slopes at the centre of the island.

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