You may know of Madeira as having the best figs. our thoughts are with the people of Madeira. Many people lost their life due to floods in that island.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8527123.stm

Thanks for posting Bass I was born in Madeira and luckaly most of my family lives on the North Coast of the island and are all ok ,I do have family in Funchal and no word on them Yet, so right now we are just praying and hoping that they are ok.

http://fotos.sapo.pt/antoniogarces/playview/3

I hope everything is okay with them.
You've mentioned that your cousin was visiting there. Is she okay?

Bass she was lucky she arrived this Thursday. Apparently its started raining there again this morning and about half the island is on red alert right now. There has been allot of land slides across the whole Island even in the town I was born in its just crazy I just heard on the portuguese news a couple minutes ago that they believe they found atleast 17 bodies in an underground parking garage it seems there is only one way in and one way out and those pour people never had a chance to get out in time.

I've been out of touch all weekend and I'm just hearing about this. Who would ever expect a flash flood? What scary photos! The raging water and all the rocks that were deposited give some indication of the flood's terrifying fury. I'm sorry to hear of lives lost. Nelson, I'm glad your family is OK.

Prayers out to all those people, I do in particular hope your family is all well Nelson.  Ciao

Thank you guys I really appreciate all the warm thoughts and prayers, I just called my grandmother and she said she just heard from her sister seems they are all ok they were my family that lived in funchal near where all this madness happened. My prayers go out to all the people in Madeira it seems its going to rain all week.

Wow.

Nelson I' glad all your relatives are OK

I Pray for all the people in Madeira

Hope the rain subsides for the massive cleanup those folks have ahead of them

Yes Bass,
I was actually thinking about that when I first saw the (Internet) news.
My heart goes to all Madeira people, wishing them a quick recovery from
this nature mishap. 

Sometimes we think our little problems are so burdensome, then you see people in real trouble. May Gods blessings be upon them and help then through this ordeal. "gene"

Yes today i just heard dozens were buried in Indonesia as they had a landslide there as well.
Like Gene said about our little problems we think are so burdensome.

Wow....yeah I had been reading about it, sigh. My thoughts and prayers go out to Madeira's people and their families and friends everywhere who are concerned about them. Nelson, glad your family is OK.