
Rafael Nadal assisted in the clean-up operation necessary after a devastating flood hit his native island of Majorca.

At least ten people are believed to have died when torrential rainstorms deluged the town of Sant Llorenc, about 40 miles east of the capital, Palma, on Tuesday evening.

They include British couple Anthony and Delia Green, aged 77 and 75, who were on their way to their hotel on the east coast when their taxi was swept away by flash floods.

Hundreds of locals and tourists were left trapped in homes submerged in up to a metre of water, while others clung to their balconies, rooftops, and even trees waiting to be rescued.

Nadal invited people affected by the severe storms to take shelter at his tennis academy in nearby Manacor and then donned wellington boots to join other volunteers in clearing away mud and water from affected areas.

The website of Spanish newspaper AS posted a video and pictures of the world number one offering assistance on his home island.

'Sad day in Majorca,' the 32-year-old Spaniard said on Twitter. 'My sincere condolences to the relatives of the deceased and injured by the severe floods in San Llorenc.

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal works with residents to clear the mud from their houses after flooding in Sant Llorenc

The world number one donned wellington boots to join other volunteers in clearing away mud and water from affected areas

'Sad day in Majorca,' the 32-year-old Spaniard said. 'My sincere condolences to the relatives of the deceased and injured by the severe floods in San Llorenc'

'As we did yesterday we offer today the facilities of @rnadalacademy for all those who need accommodation.'

Locals swam for their lives as a 13ft wall of water raced through Sant Llorenc des Cardassar – where TV's Love Island is filmed – battering houses and sweeping cars away with people stuck inside.

The unnamed British couple – understood to be in their 70s – were found dead inside a taxi that had been driving through the area around 8pm on Tuesday. They were killed within hours of arriving on the island.

At least eight other people died after eight inches of rain fell in four hours and a river burst its banks.

British consul Lloyd Milen said they had landed at Palma airport and were on the way to their hotel when the floods struck 40 miles east of the capital. Raging downpours saw a huge torrent of muddy water engulf Sant Llorenc des Cardassar.

The Foreign Office said it was supporting the families of two British people killed in the floods.

It added that it was 'urgently seeking updates' as to the fate of any Britons stranded on the island, Spanish authorities yesterday said the official death toll from the flooding was ten.

But they are continuing to search for a child – thought to be the brother of a youngster who was pulled alive from the wreckage of the family car.

Survivor Manuel Torrescusa told how he had to swim out of his car through a window to safety.

He said: 'I swam 500 metres through the torrent until I got to a house.' He added: 'I hardly had any clothes on me as they all got caught on a metal fence when I was swimming.

People prepare to spend the night at the Manacor's Miguel Angel Nadal sports centre after they had been evacuated

Nadal invited people affected by the severe storms to take shelter at his tennis academy in nearby Manacor

A British couple are among at least ten people killed after floods struck the Spanish island of Majorca overnight. Pictured, residents walk along a muddy street during clean-up efforts after flash floods hit the village of Sant Llorenc des Cardasar

At least ten people died and a 5-years-old boy is missing due to heavy rains which caused the torrent of Sant Llorenc to overflow

A video grab shows flash floods affecting the village of Sant Llorenc des Cardasar, in Majorca due to heavy rainfall hitting the island

Ten people are dead and another six missing after more than seven inches of rain fell in two hours on the eastern side of Majorca, sparking flash flooding in the towns of Sant Llorenc des Cardassar (pictured) and Arta

A British couple have been confirmed among the dead after a taxi they were taking through s'Illot was swept away around 8pm when a nearby river burst its banks

Another survivor said: 'The water reached about 13ft at one point and was piling cars up on top of each other. I had to swim to survive. I have seen cars go past me with people inside.'

Officials said the victims included a 71-year-old ex-mayor of a Majorca district and an OAP who died after becoming trapped in the basement of his home. Another victim is thought to be a van driver.

More than 100 emergency workers with sniffer dogs and 80 soldiers were deployed by the Spanish military to help with the search and rescue efforts.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez visited the disaster zone yesterday and pledged his support for the victims' families.

He said: 'My solidarity and support goes out to the families and friends of victims and all those affected by these tragic floods.'

Power cuts across the area saw schools shut down, while around 100 people were forced to spend the night at a sports centre. The storm is the worst to hit Majorca for nearly three decades.

The Met Office said the Mediterranean was affected by a 'very strong' weather system that was drawing in hot, moist air.

Rosario Sanchez, the mayor of Sant Llorenç, confirmed that three men and two women were among the dead in her town, including the British couple.

One of the men killed in nearby Sant Llorenc was Rafel Gili, 71, former mayor of the town of Arta which is close by.

Two elderly people died in their homes after getting trapped, including an a man with mobility issues who was found in his basement.

Two more victims were then found in the town of S'Illot, with at least one discovered in the town of Arta.

A ninth victim is thought to be a van driver called Biel Mesquida Salas who was last seen driving a van in an area near the town of Sant Llorenc des Cardassar called Son Vives.

His family had used social media to appeal for information on his whereabouts. Authorities would not immediately confirm his identity.

Locals told how they swam for their lives after a wall of water smashed into their homes overnight. Pictured: A grab from a video showing the power of the water

A map showing rainfall on Tuesday at 8pm, when flash floods hit s'Illot, with a heavy band of rain concentrated over the eastern side of Majorca

Seven inches of rain fell in a two hour span on Majorca overnight, with the town of Sant Llorenc des Cardassar at the centre of the storm. The coastal village of S'illot and the northeastern town of Arta were both badly hit by the flooding

Dozens of cars were caught up in floods as streets turned to rivers before being dumped in piles when the water subsided

Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise to 14 as they search through vehicles that were swept away during the flooding, with sniffer dogs being brought in

The flood is the worst to hit the island of Majorca since 1990 and the worst to affect Sant Llorenc since 1989

The couple were riding in a taxi through the town around 8pm when a nearby river, which is usually dry, burst its banks and the vehicle was swept away

The pair are among ten people to have been confirmed dead in the flooding, while at least six still missing

More than seven inches of rain fell in a two-hour span on eastern Majorca last night, turning streets into rivers

Two Britons were killed overnight in the Spanish town of s'Illot, on Majorca, when torrential rain caused flash flooding (pictured)

Victims were then found in the town of S'Illot, with at least one discovered in the town of Arta. Pictured: The clean up operation

The death of the British couple comes after holidaymakers Kenneth and Mary Hall, 72, and 70, from Bootle, Merseyside, died in October 2011 after being hit by an avalanche of rainwater at a popular street market in Benidorm's neighbouring town of Finestrat.

Majorca's extreme autumn weather Autumnal weather in Majorca, particularly in October, can be severe, with everything from flash flooding, to extreme hail storms, to tornadoes. From September through to December, Majorca is subject to heavy rainfall that can lead to flash flooding. This is at its worst in October, which is the peak thunderstorm month. Torrential rain over the mountains can result in flash flooding along the coastline three to four hours later. Source: Holiday-Weather.com Advertisement

Traders had repeatedly complained to the local authorities about the danger of flooding in the market, which was built in a watercourse that had been asphalted over.

Two former Spanish mayors escaped jail last year despite being convicted of manslaughter over the deaths.

State prosecutors were demanding four-year prison sentences for Finestrat's long-time socialist mayor Jose Miguel Llorca Llinares and his right-wing successor Honorato Algado, as well as a councillor in charge of public safety called Tomas Gaspar Selles Llorca.

But an eleventh-hour plea bargain led to the suspension of their manslaughter trial, which was due to start at a criminal court in Benidorm on September 18 last year and was scheduled to last a week.

All three men had been charged with two crimes of gross negligence manslaughter over the deaths of the British couple as well as other offences relating to injuries suffered by two other victims of the October 21 2011 flash floods.

Dozens of soldiers and more than 100 emergency workers have been sent to Majorca to deal with the aftermath, as sniffer dogs search vehicles for the missing

Debris littered the streets of Sant Llorenc and Arta after the torrential storm, which took place around 7pm yesterday

Cars swept along in the flood were left scattered amid mud, wood and other debris along the streets of Sant Llorenc

Residents emerge to inspect the damage as forecasters are predicting more rain and high winds for the Mediterranean this week with the possibility of further storms

Cars sit among flattened trees after being swept aside by floodwaters in Majorca overnight on Tuesday

Tons of mud were swept through the streets during the torrential storm while others described being able to smell raw sewage washed up from the drains

Residents remove mud from their home in the village of Sant Llorenc after the worst flooding for 29 years hit the town

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) talking to the officials and members of the Spanish Guardia Civil during his vitit to a flooded area in in Sant Llorenc des Cardassar, on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca

Debris on a street covered by muddy water in Sant Llorenc des Cardassar, on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca

A flooded area covered by muddy waters is pictured in Sant Llorenc des Cardassar. As of Wednesday afternoon the death toll was ten

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (centre) and Balearic regional president Francina Armengol (left) arrive to visit a flooded area in Sant Llorenc des Cardassar

A resident looks at vehicles damaged by floods in the village of Sant Llorenc. Some 300 members of emergency services took part in the search operation

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (centre) and Balearic regional president Francina Armengo (left) walking on a street covered by muddy water during floods

Francina Armengol, President of the Balearic Islands which includes Majorca, confirmed Wednesday that her government would declare three days of mourning and will be pressing Madrid to declare the affected area as an official disaster zone.

The storm is the worst to hit Majorca since 1990, and the worst to hit Sant Lllorenc since 1989, according to local station IB3.

Grahame Madge, spokesman for the Met Office, said the Mediterranean is being affected by a 'very strong' weather system centered over southern France and northern Spain which is drawing in hot, moist air.

'Those are the two key ingredients for very strong rain storms,' he told Mail Online.

'Heavy rain and thunderstorms will continue to affect the region this week before the system tracks east and into northern Italy by Friday.

'Some places could see high winds, heavy rain, lightning and hail.'

Spain's meteorological office said the neighbouring islands of Ibiza and Formentera were now on high alert.

The taxi driver is understood to have been working for a cab firm called Radio Taxi Cala Millor, which confirmed that the driver is still missing.

A spokesman for the emergency services said: 'The British victims were travelling in a taxi that was swept away by flash floods. Their bodies were found inside the vehicle.'

She could not say what their ages were or where they were travelling to or from.

She added: 'This information forms part of an ongoing investigation. Our work now is focussed on searching for those people who remain missing.'

Roads collapsed, power lines were toppled and emergency service numbers failed overnight as the rain hammered down

At least two elderly people died after getting trapped in their homes as dozens of properties were inundated with water

Residents help in the cleaing up work in a street in the village of Sant Llorenc following the torrential rains overnight

Emergency teams gather at the main road of Sant Llorenc, where Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected today

A tractor and truck with a hydraulic arm attached help to move vehicles swept up in floodwaters on Majorca overnight

Mud and debris covers the ground outside an apartment block along with sun loungers carried along by floodwaters

Locals in Sant LLorenc sought refuge on their roofs as a torrent of water invaded the ground floor of their homes, sweeping cars out to sea.

The first two victims were aged 71 and 83. One was trapped by a torrent of water that flooded the basement of his home and another was found by a road linking the town of Arta to the coastal resort of Canyamel.

An emergency services coordinator tweeted just after midnight: 'It has been confirmed that a third person has died' before adding around 6am: 'Rescuer teams have informed us of a fourth fatality in the floods on the east of Majorca.

'She's a woman who was trapped in her home in Sant Llorenc.'

Local authorities confirmed at breakfast-time on Wednesday that another person had died, although no more details were immediately released.

The number of people missing in the floods was up to 15 at one point overnight, although local authorities later clarified that it was down to five.

Rosario Sanchez Grau, central government representative for the Balearic Islands, said: 'These are difficult moments. My condolences and solidarity for all those affected, especially the families and friends of those who have died.'

Local officials said they were completely unprepared for the downpour, saying that a huge amount of rain fell in a very short space of time

Six people have been confirmed dead and six more are missing after torrential rains turned roads into rivers and swept cars away around Sant LLorenc des Cardassar

Majorca residents were forced to seek refuge on their rooftops as the rain flooded basements and ground floor apartments, while dragging cars away

A car rests across a highway crash barrier after being swept up in floodwaters on Majorca

Heavy rain also brought chaos to other parts of Spain including Barcelona, where parts of the tube service were temporarily suspended

Catalina Cladera, in charge of public administration for the regional government, described the situation as 'dantesque' and added: 'We weren't expecting it.

'The alert went from yellow to orange in a very short space of time. A massive amount of rain has fallen in very little time.'

The Spanish military is sending more than a hundred emergency workers with sniffer dogs to help with the rescue effort, the BBC reports.

Three helicopters and a military Hercules plane are also being sent from the mainland Spanish city of Valencia.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also traveling to the disaster zone and is expected to arrive around 1pm.

Sanchez tweeted his 'solidarity and support for the relatives and friends of the victims, and for all those affected by this tragic flooding.'

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal, who is from the affected area in Majorca, said on Instagram he was offering to open up his sports centre and tennis academy to people displaced by the floods.

'Our most sincere condolences to the loved ones of the victims of the serious floods in San Llorenc,' he wrote.

Around 100 people have spent the night at a council-run sports centre in the city of Manacor near Sant Llorenc.

Locals said the town remained virtually cut-off Wednesday morning and could only be reached by foot. Schools in the areas suspended classes because of power cuts.

Heavy rain also brought chaos to other parts of Spain including Barcelona, where parts of the tube service were temporarily suspended, and Costa del Sol holiday resorts.

The Costa del Sol remained on red alert Wednesday following overnight storms and torrential rain in resorts like Marbella, which came after a day of heavy downpours.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: 'We are supporting the family of two British people following their deaths in Spain, and will do all we can to assist them at this deeply difficult time.

'Our staff remain in contact with the Spanish authorities who are responsible for responding to the floods, and are ready to assist any other British people who require our help.' A rescue coordination spokesman said three of the bodies had been recovered in Sant Llorenc, two in Area, three in s'Illot and one in Son Carrio.

Emergency services also confirmed a child thought to be aged around five had been rescued unhurt from one of the cars swept away by the floodwater - but his mum and brother who had been travelling with him inside the vehicle were still missing.

A spokesman said: 'It appears he had been in the vehicle alone for several hours. Rescuers are still searching for his relatives.' The taxi driver of the two Brits killed is thought to be among the people found dead, although officials have not confirmed his body has been found.