( CNN ) -- At least 38 people have died in mudslides on the Portuguese island of Madeira , which was hit by heavy downpours overnight , an official told CNN on Saturday . Pedro Barbosa , the vice president of the Civil Protection Agency in Madeira , told CNN that an unknown number of people were missing -- perhaps dozens , he said . The mudslides and flooding caused substantial damage to roads and homes in the capital , Funchal , and in Ribeira Brava , which are both on the southern portion of the Atlantic island , which lies about 600 miles southwest of Portugal , Barbosa said . Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates and Interior Minister Rui Pereira arrived on the island on Saturday , according to CNN affiliate Radio e Televisao de Portugal ( RTP ) . Socrates told RTP that `` the situation is under control '' and the government is offering all its support to regional authorities . The country 's president , Cavaco Silva , expressed his condolences to the people of Madeira in a televised statement and promised to do everything to help `` during this difficult time . '' Pedro Ramos of Dr. Nelio Mendonca Hospital in Funchal , told CNN that 68 wounded people were hospitalized from the mudslides and flooding . Three were critical , he said . The vice president of Madeira 's regional government had tallied 68 victims with injuries , according to the official Lusa news agency . The floodwaters overturned cars and knocked down trees , Barbosa said . Authorities have evacuated hundreds of people to military and civil protection facilities in Funchal , he said . Search and rescue teams have been reinforced , but have n't been able to reach every area , according to the Civil Protection Agency . The Portuguese military has dispatched five teams to help with search and rescue efforts , it announced on its Web site . The military is also ready to shelter up to 130 people where 50 people are already staying , it said . Barbosa said weather conditions have substantially improved , with the rains winding down . Madeira , an autonomous region of Portugal , is a popular resort destination . There have been no reports of any dead or missing tourists . CNN 's Umaro Djau contributed to this report .
NEW : Portuguese military has dispatched five teams to help with search and rescue efforts . NEW : Weather has substantially improved , civil protection official says . Madeira hit by heavy downpours overnight , triggering mudslide that killed at least 38 . Comment: The storm is moving away from the coast of Portugal ( which was in a bad spot )