Madrid  - Heavy rains sparked flooding in several parts of Spain on Monday, causing traffic jams and cutting rail links, officials said.

A elderly woman was found dead underneath a car in Coslada near Madrid. It was not immediately clear whether she had been carried away by floodwater. Four people were reported injured.

Garages and basements stood under water east of the capital. Power cuts were also reported. The highway leading from Madrid to Valencia was blocked by police at several points, causing massive traffic jams.

Around 1,900 people were stuck on local or long-distance trains unable to move on inundated tracks near Tarragona. Rail passengers were transported by bus in the Malaga region. A 15-metre stretch of a medieval wall collapsed under the rains in Zamora in the north. (dpa)