Rivers burst their banks and swamped roads and people's homes - forcing some to take shelter in a sports center in the nearby town of Manacor.

At least another nine people were still missing after the downpours, local media reported, though emergency services declined to confirm that figure.

Images posted on social media on Wednesday (October 10) showed cars being swept along narrow streets by torrents of brown water in the eastern town of Sant Llorenc.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was planning to travel to the area later on Wednesday, his office said.

The Spanish weather service AEMET on Wednesday declared an orange alert for heavy rains in Malaga, Barcelona, Girona and the Balearic islands of Ibiza and Formentera. A yellow alert was placed in Tarragona, Mallorca and Menorca.