More than 60 others were also hospitalised as torrential streams of water and liquid mud swept through the capital, Funchal, destroying homes, overturning cars and felling trees. The Atlantic island, which lies around 600 miles south-west of Portugal, is a popular destination for British holidaymakers and is thought to have been busy this week with half-term visitors. Last night the Foreign Office said it was monitoring the situation, althought there were no reports of foreign tourists being killed or injured.