Africa-Press – Cape verde. Civil Defense recorded dozens of incidents during the early morning hours and warns of flooding scenarios in riverside areas. The country is under a yellow alert due to heavy rain and strong winds. There are already reports of homeless people and people rescued from the floods, in addition to one confirmed fatality.
Portugal continues to experience heavy rain and strong winds, with the effects of Storm Leonardo being felt throughout the continent. The country is under a yellow alert due to heavy rain and strong winds, with warnings extended until at least 6:00 PM. The Portuguese coast is also marked in orange due to rough seas.
On Wednesday, the storm claimed its first victim. During the early morning hours, Civil Defense recorded dozens of incidents. There were at least 70, registered between midnight and 6:00 AM this Thursday, most related to fallen trees and flooding of structures or surfaces, according to a Civil Protection source speaking to the Lusa news agency. These are in addition to the 1,790 incidents, mostly in the Lisbon, Setúbal and Oeste regions, recorded up to 11 pm on Wednesday. More than 1,700 personnel are mobilized for active incidents nationwide, according to information from the Civil Protection website at 7:45 am.
Riverside areas are causing the most concern, with Civil Protection warning of a high risk of significant flooding in areas near the Vouga, Mondego, Tagus, Sorraia and Águeda rivers.
Localities near the Douro, Cávado, Ave, Lima, Tâmega, Lis and Sado rivers are also a cause for concern.
One person died as a result of the bad weather. A 60-year-old man did not survive after being swept away by the current in the Guadiana River basin. The car he was in was submerged near the Amoreira dam, in Pias, Alentejo, after the man tried to cross a flooded road.
There have already been 11 fatalities since last week, as a result of the passage of depressions Kristin and Leonardo.
Traffic disruptions
The bad weather and resulting flooding are also causing serious disruptions to rail traffic, with CP (Portuguese Railways) confirming the suspension of rail service on the Northern Line, on the section between Castanheira do Ribatejo and Alverca, in the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon. The Northern Line was already suspended due to flooding in the Alfarelos area (Coimbra) for long-distance trains.
According to the company, urban services in Coimbra are also suspended, as are regional services between Entroncamento and Coimbra B. On the Cascais Line, service between Algés and Oeiras is operating on a single track, which may cause some delays.
The situation is no better on the boats. The Transtejo river ferry service between Trafaria, Porto Brandão, and Belém is interrupted due to very adverse weather and sea conditions, following the suspension of the Cacilhas – Cais do Sodré connection.
The company indicated that it is not possible to predict when regular service will resume between these river ports in the municipalities of Almada and Lisbon.
More than 80 people rescued in Alcácer do Sal
Due to bad weather and rising waters, 89 people were rescued in Alcácer do Sal, in the Setúbal district, between Wednesday and early this morning. This information was confirmed by a Civil Protection source to the Lusa news agency, who also indicated the reinforcement of all personnel on site.
Schools in Alcácer do Sal will remain closed until Friday due to worsening weather conditions. Pharmacies in Alcácer do Sal have also been closed due to flooding, with residents having to travel to Grândola to find the nearest pharmacy on duty.
The rising Sado River caused a new wave of flooding in Alcácer do Sal, with water levels exceeding 1.20 meters in the lower part of the city yesterday afternoon; levels may have risen even further overnight.
Bad weather leaves 12 homeless in Arruda dos Vinhos
According to the latest information, 12 people were displaced due to damage caused by the bad weather to their homes in Arruda dos Vinhos. These people were relocated to municipal housing or relatives’ homes.
The heavy rain also led to the evacuation of several people from their homes due to “risk of flooding or landslides” yesterday.
Twelve were in Torres Vedras, due to the risk of flooding caused by the overflowing of the Sizandro River, six in Arruda dos Vinhos, three in Lourinhã and one in Caldas da Rainha.
In Costa da Caparica, in the municipality of Almada, at least 35 people had to be evacuated from their homes, including 22 elderly residents of a nursing home, due to landslides or coastal erosion. São João and Santo António are the areas where the largest landslides have occurred, “without major damage,” according to the mayor of Almada, quoted by the Lusa news agency.
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