Four storms in a row – Portugal fears 100-year flood

Isak Fritzon

Published 22.55

 

Iria Afonso, 76, receives help to evacuate from her flooded home in Alcácer do Sal. Photo: Ana Brigida /AP/TT / AP

Kristin, Leonardo, Marta and Nils.

The storms have succeeded each other since the beginning of the year.

Now the authorities are warning of a 100-year flood. 

Quick version

• Several storms have caused widespread devastation in Portugal, with at least 16 dead and thousands evacuated, and there is a risk of a 100-year flood.
• The crisis has led to political consequences, including the resignation of Interior Minister Maria Lúcia Amaral.
• Scientists link the extreme weather events on the Iberian Peninsula to climate change.

At least 16 people have died. Thousands have been evacuated and major roads have collapsed.

The storms have been hitting in a string since the beginning of the year and water levels are expected to peak on Friday.

According to local authorities in the city of Coimbra, in central Portugal, there is a high probability that it is a so-called 100-year flood, Público reports. A 100-year flood has a one percent chance of occurring in a given year.

Thousands evacuated

On Wednesday, 3,000 people were evacuated in Coimbra and another 9,000 people may be forced to leave their homes on Friday.

More than 3,000 soldiers have been deployed to stop the advance of the water masses and clear debris.

Hundreds of people have already fled their homes in what researchers describe as the “longest storm train in living memory,” reports The Guardian.

 

Roofs in the city of Figueira da Foz collapsed during storm Kristin, causing havoc on the streets. The picture is from January 28. Photo: Jorge Lemos /AP/TT / AP

“No one will be forgotten”

The crisis has also had political consequences. Interior Minister Maria Lúcia Amaral resigned on Tuesday after strong criticism of the way the crisis was handled. She herself stated that she lacked the “personal and political conditions to carry out the mission”.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro is temporarily taking over responsibility. He promises that the government will work to “rapidly rebuild the country” and develop a recovery plan.

“No one will be forgotten,” he said on Thursday evening.

 

The town of Alcácer do Sal was flooded in the heavy rains in early February. Photo: Ana Brigida /AP/TT / AP

Neighboring Spain has also been hard hit by the storm. 34 people were taken to hospital on Thursday in northeastern Catalonia after strong storm winds, El País reports.

One person was seriously injured after being hit by a tree and several flights were cancelled.

Extreme weather events – such as winter storms – are becoming more frequent and intense on the Iberian Peninsula. This is partly due to climate change, according to the World Weather Attribution research network.