At least five people have died after Storm Kristin tore through central and northern Portugal, causing flooding, landslides, and widespread damage. The storm, which the government described as an extreme climatic event, left schools shuttered, buildings damaged, and travel severely disrupted. In the coastal city of Figueira da Foz, a Ferris wheel overturned and several vehicles were hit when part of a roof was torn from a building.
Portugal has been hit by a succession of storms in recent days, including one over the weekend in which a man died after his car was swept away in floods. Heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 150km (95 miles) per hour caused more than 3,000 weather-related incidents across the country, with several people struck by falling trees or debris.
The strongest winds were recorded at the Monte Real air base in Leiria, where gusts of 178km were documented before the monitoring equipment was destroyed. More than 850,000 people lost power on Wednesday, according to electricity distributor E-Redes.
The civil protection agency (ANEPC) reported three fatalities in the central district of Leiria. In Leiria, one person was hit by a metal sheet, and another was trapped in the structure of a house. Additionally, local media reported that a man in Vila Franca de Xira died when a tree struck his car.
Transportation across Portugal has been severely disrupted, with roads, including the main motorway connecting Lisbon to the north, and railways blocked by debris. Ten coastal areas were placed under a red weather warning due to dangerous sea conditions, with waves forecast to reach up to 14m (45ft, 11in) according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
Officials urged residents of Coimbra and Leiria to remain indoors, as Prime Minister Luis Montenegro expressed condolences to the victims' families and pledged that authorities would assess the damage and implement necessary measures. Leiria's mayor, Goncalo Lopes, has called for a state of emergency, citing severe damage to public spaces, while emphasizing the extensive recovery effort needed in the coming months.
Following its devastating passage through Portugal, Storm Kristin is now moving east into Spain, where it continues to cause adverse weather.
Portugal has been hit by a succession of storms in recent days, including one over the weekend in which a man died after his car was swept away in floods. Heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 150km (95 miles) per hour caused more than 3,000 weather-related incidents across the country, with several people struck by falling trees or debris.
The strongest winds were recorded at the Monte Real air base in Leiria, where gusts of 178km were documented before the monitoring equipment was destroyed. More than 850,000 people lost power on Wednesday, according to electricity distributor E-Redes.
The civil protection agency (ANEPC) reported three fatalities in the central district of Leiria. In Leiria, one person was hit by a metal sheet, and another was trapped in the structure of a house. Additionally, local media reported that a man in Vila Franca de Xira died when a tree struck his car.
Transportation across Portugal has been severely disrupted, with roads, including the main motorway connecting Lisbon to the north, and railways blocked by debris. Ten coastal areas were placed under a red weather warning due to dangerous sea conditions, with waves forecast to reach up to 14m (45ft, 11in) according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
Officials urged residents of Coimbra and Leiria to remain indoors, as Prime Minister Luis Montenegro expressed condolences to the victims' families and pledged that authorities would assess the damage and implement necessary measures. Leiria's mayor, Goncalo Lopes, has called for a state of emergency, citing severe damage to public spaces, while emphasizing the extensive recovery effort needed in the coming months.
Following its devastating passage through Portugal, Storm Kristin is now moving east into Spain, where it continues to cause adverse weather.
