Storms have created flooding and caused eight deaths in Spain and Portugal. New storm approaching rapidly.

A strong storm that has hit parts of Southern europe, has claimed the lives of eight people in Spain and Portugal in the course of the last few days.

The state authorities in the two countries. Also the south west of France is affected, but here there are not reported deaths.

The latest victim is a man, who died when his car was swept away by waters from a flooded river near the town of town of huescar in the south of Spain. It informs the authorities in the south west region of Andalusia.

In the same region drowned a 68-year-old Dutch man Friday, after he had gone out to go windsurfing in the harsh weather, informs the authorities of the Huelva province.

Additionally dead a 32-year-old woman from south Korea on Saturday, after she was hit by a detached object from a building in the Spanish capital, Madrid.

The building had undergone an inspection four years ago and was declared safe.

- A weather like this with heavy rain and wind causes these ill-fated incidents, says Spain's interior minister, Enrique Lopez.

In the advance were the other five people are reported to have died in connection with the storm that has characterised the region Thursday and Friday.

the Storm, named Elsa, has toppled power lines and caused traffic delays in several places.

Saturday, the weather is more quiet, but forecasters warn that another storm - with the name Fabien is on the way.

It has already hit Galicia is the northwest corner of Spain, with gusts of up to 170 kilometres an hour.

Both in Madrid and in the French region of Bordeaux, the authorities have closed several public parks because of the severe storms.

/ritzau/AFP