Heavy rains and extreme winds are causing serious situations in some locations, such as Vila do Conde and Albufeira. One person died in that Algarve municipality, a death already lamented by the President of the Republic.
The most serious situation occurred in Albufeira, with one “extreme wind phenomenon” causing damage to a hotel, where one person was seriously injured and another 20 suffered minor injuries, according to RTP. At an adjacent campsite, two people were in serious condition and another was initially reported missing, having been found buried in the meantime.
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The President of the Republic published a note to manifest “solidarity with the family of the fatal victim, as a result of the passage of depression Cláudia, this morning in Albufeira.” He also addressed “I wish a quick recovery to the injured citizens” in the same locality.
Civil Protection recorded 198 incidents between midnight and 8am this Saturday, following the passage of the Claudia depression. The majority of incidents, 159, corresponded to flooding. There were also 17 situations that required road cleaning, eight structure falls, seven mass movements and five tree falls, José Miranda, Civil Protection officer on duty, told TSF. The Porto Metropolitan Area was the most affected area, with 97 incidents, followed by the Aveiro region, with 50. 411 operational personnel and 159 vehicles were mobilized on the ground.
Between aces 2pm on November 12th and 11am this Saturday, 3363 incidents were recorded across the national territory.
River climb in Vila do Conde
In Vila do Conde, the rain that fell during the morning caused flooding andm several houses. At least ten, especially the lower floors, were affected and were completely submerged. One elderly woman is trapped in her home in the parish of Modivas. HAS Lusa agency, the head of the Vila do Conde Fire Department, Valdemar Maia explained that the woman is in contact with the firefighters and, therefore, there will be no need to “enter the river” to rescue her. The heavy rains also forced the closure of roads and caused the Ribeira da Lage climbed its banks.
Speaking to SIC, the mayor of Vila do Conde, Vítor Costa indicated that social action teams are already on the ground, but there were “losses of many assets”. “Fortunately, we have already managed to help these families.” The president also added that a man had to be removed from the car, but that there are no victims to mourn at this time.
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Floods and waterfalls in Santa Maria da Feira
The storm and intense rain this morning caused flooding, fallen trees and road closures in Santa Maria da Feira (Aveiro), a situation that is being assessed, said the Civil Protection councilor.
Without providing specific numbers of occurrences, Vítor Marques told Lusa that in Santa Maria da Feira “the bad weather made people strange throughout the municipality” and that “property damage will be recorded in the future”.
“There are no victims or injuries, but the situation was complicated during the night with the water rising to the level of the houses, trees falling and flooding. The worst period was between 2:00 am and 4:00 am due to a lot of rain and hail”, said the mayor.
The councilor added that he has teams on the ground, namely from the municipal works brigade and the management of green spaces “assessing the immediate needs of the population, investigating incidents and cutting roads that need to be cut”.
“An embankment gave way on a road in Sampaio de Oleiros and the road is closed. In the riverside areas the water rose, but it is now under control. In the center of Santa Maria da Feira, in downtown Rossio next to the restaurants, it was also difficult. No preventive measure could contain this situation. We recorded parts of the facade falling, but most of them in vacant houses, facades falling”, said the mayor.
Beja, Setúbal, Faro and Braga with orange warning
The maritime unrest also led to the closure of eleven bars to all navigation, according to the National Maritime Authority. Bars in Caminha, Douro, Vila Praia de Âncora, Esposende, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, Portinho da Ericeira, Albufeira, Alvor, Vila Real de Santo António and Tavira are closed.
Care to take
In the face of adverse conditions, the Civil Protection recommends special care when traveling and staying in wooded areas and advises caution along the coastline and riverside areas. It also asks that they be Avoid activities related to the seasuch as sport fishing, water sports, walks along the seaside or parking vehicles near the coastline.
Among preventive measures, the authority also highlights the importance of a defensive drivingwith speed reduction and attention to the formation of water tables; the need to do not cross flooded areasto avoid dragging or falling into holes and open sewage boxes; and the removal of animals, equipment and vehicles from normally floodable areas.
Article updated at 1pm reporting the death of a person at a campsite in Albufeira