Rescue workers at the scene

BBC

At least eight people have died after heavy rains triggered flash floods in southern Spain, officials have said.

The strength of the floods overturned cars, closed roads, damaged homes and forced hundreds to leave their properties, reports the BBC.

The hardest hit areas were the provinces of Malaga and Almeria, and the Murcia region.

Further north in the town of Gandia, a tornado struck a temporary fairground, injuring 35 people, 15 seriously.

At least 600 people had to be evacuated from their homes in the Andalucia region, which contains Malaga and Almeria, officials said.

Some 24.5 cm (9.6 in) of rain fell on Friday morning alone, according to Spain's weather agency.

A regional government spokesperson in Malaga told AFP news agency the rains were decreasing and seemed to be shifting towards Granada and Almeria.

However, torrential rain and violent thunderstorms are predicted to continue in the south of the country over the weekend.