LAS PALMAS, Canary Islands - Heavy rains and flooding in the in the Spanish archipelago off west Africa Tuesday have killed at least four foreign tourists and forced the evacuation of hundreds of others, officials reported. Total rainfall over the past 12 hours often exceeded 50mm (almost two inches).

Rescue teams on La Palma, one of the islands, recovered the bodies of four Austrians who were swept away by a flash flood in the Caldera national park. Another one or two members of the Austrian mountaineering club they were with were missing, while the remainder of the group were being evacuated, the deputy chief of the island's local government, Juan de la Barreda, said. A group of 25 schoolchildren was also rescued and another 20 Austrians and their guide were holed up on the side of a ravine awaiting help, he added.

On the main island, Gran Canaria, more than 300 tourists, most of them from Germany and Scandinavian countries, had to be taken from various hotels and apartments to safer ground after rising waters inundated several buildings. The seaside resorts of Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles and San Agustin, all close to the town of San Bartolome de Tirajana, were the worst affected, the local mayor's office said.

Related Links:
See past 12 hours rainfall here
Learn more about Flash Floods here