Heavy Rains In Spain Floods Cities On The Plains

Heavy downpours, strong winds and snow have inundated Spain, killing least eight people during the past week and forcing hundreds from their homes, officials said Saturday.

Nearly continuous rainfall since Christmas has overflowed rivers, flooded city streets and farms and caused numerous detours on main highways. People have been advised to drive only for emergencies.

The southern coastal region of Andalusia and the northern and western plains around the cities of Caceres, Leon and Valladolid were hardest hit.

On Saturday, strong rain and winds destroyed fifty tiled-roofed homes in the town of Valdeobispo in southwestern Spain and damaged the walls and balconies of other homes. No one was injured.

In the southern coastal city of Cadiz, more than 80 families had to be evacuated when the Palmones River burst its banks. Farther east in Algeciras, 100 people were evacuated following flooding of the Guadiaro River.