Indian army helicopters supplied essentials to tens of thousands of marooned people as downpours inundated the region's largest airport in the state capital Hyderabad and damaged rail and road networks.

More than 62,000 people have been evacuated from the eight worst-affected districts, the spokesman said, adding that the rains had also collapsed communications and power cables and destroyed infrastructure in 125 villages.

The weather office predicted more rain in the next few days as the state government tried to reach areas cut-off by floods which have hit trade in Andhra Pradesh, one of India's largest seafood exporters.

Parts of the western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat are also facing heavy rains which experts say will result in bountiful crops this winter in agriculture-dependent India.

Rescuers from the police and army launched an operation early on Sunday, Benyam said, using bulldozers to dig through the sandy river banks in search of more corpses.

"We may call off the search as evening approaches and then resume the operation in the morning," he added.

Some 220 homes had been destroyed by the floods, Benyam said, and 90 people have been released from hospital after treatment, although four remained there with serious injuries.

Benyam said a store of coffee destined for export was also swept away when the floods hit the town, located in Ethiopia's lowlands, 525 km (326 miles) east of the capital Addis Ababa.

"The destruction caused to property could run into millions of dollars," the police inspector said. "The estimate is being worked out and will be released as soon as possible."

Heavy rains in Ethiopia's highlands during the June-August season usually cause rivers in lowland areas to overflow.

Last week, government officials said some 15,000 farmers had been rescued from flooded villages and taken to safe areas.

In Catalonia, strong winds are fanning the flames, making the job more difficult. Across the border, the Portuguese emergency services fought to contain dozens of fires over the weekend. Ten of the country's 18 regions have been affected. Saturday saw the worst of it so far, according to officials. Some 422 separate incidents were logged. A dozen fire-fighters were affected by noxious fumes after a chemical factory north of Lisbon was engulfed by the flames. An inquiry into the incident has been launched.