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17:26 GMT, Friday, 10 October 2008 18:26 UK

Britons killed by floods in Spain

A British woman and her 14-year-old daughter have died in flash-floods while they were trying to cross a ravine in Spain.

The victims have been named as Lorraine Cullen, 47, and her daughter Lauren.

Spanish officials said they were among four British females swept away by the waters of the River Clariano in the Valencia region on Thursday evening.

The two others, one of whom is believed to be another family member, got out safely and raised the alarm.

Bad weather

The group had attempted to cross the ravine in L'Olleria on foot but the river's waters had risen sharply following the flash-floods.

Emergency services located the bodies of the two dead women shortly after midnight just over a mile downriver.

Local police have said the victims are believed to have lived in Spain for the past four years.

It is thought that they were originally from Brighton.

The pair were trying to cross the river to get to their home but the current carried them off. Map of Spain

A spokesman for L'Olleria's town hall said: "Everyone in the area is shocked at what happened."

"One of the survivors is the mother's other daughter.

"She was waiting for her mum and sister to cross before she followed."

The Foreign Office is providing assistance to the two survivors and the victims' families.

Torrential rain over the past few days has left several rivers in eastern Spain running dangerously high and closed the ports of Valencia, Gandia and Sagunto.

It has also blocked roads and railway lines.

In southern Spain, ferry links to the Moroccan port of Tangier and Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta were suspended because of storms.

The severe weather is set to continue.




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