MADRID, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Torrential rain on Spain's eastern Mediterranean coast caused flooding that blocked highways and forced people to flee their homes on Friday, emergency services said.

The Valencia region, one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations, was hardest hit. Residents of Denia were forced to flee after the Girona river burst its banks, local police said.

Valencian towns such as Calpe and Alcoy also suffered flooding and the city of Valencia closed its port and diverted aircraft from its airport.

On the Balearic island of Ibiza, a kitesurfer was killed when a gust of wind slammed him into the wall of a hotel, national radio reported.

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