Portugal floods: Red alert and evacuation of residents due to Storm Leonardo
Portuguese authorities have declared a state of maximum alert, issuing a red alert – the highest level of warning – to address the escalating risk of flooding across the country. This urgent action comes as a result of the alarming rise in the Tagus River's in the Santarém region, caused by the heavy and continuous rainfall brought by Storm Leonardo , which is impacting large parts of the Iberian Peninsula.
State of emergency and evacuation of residents in Santarém
In a rapidly evolving situation, the National Civil Protection Commander, Mario Silvestre, confirmed during an urgent press conference that the flood risk index had jumped to red in the Santarém region. In response to this threat, local authorities issued strict orders for the mandatory evacuation of residential and agricultural areas along the riverbanks, giving residents no more than seven hours to leave.
Official reports indicate that the current situation in the Tagus River basin is reminiscent of the 1997 floods, reflecting the immense water pressure on the region's dams and waterways. Emergency teams are working around the clock to secure property and assist residents in relocating to temporary shelters.
Human losses and expanding flood area
The damage was not limited to the Santarém area, but extended to the city of Alcácer do Sal, located about 100 kilometers south of the capital, Lisbon. The flooding of the Sado River the city center streets to be inundated, forcing about one hundred residents to evacuate their homes and shops.
In a tragic incident highlighting the severity of the situation, civil protection services reported the death of a man in his sixties in the municipality of Serba, in the southeast of the country. The victim perished after being swept away by flash floods while attempting to cross a flooded area near a dam, underscoring the importance of authorities' warnings to avoid travel in disaster-stricken areas.
The aftermath of successive storms: from Christine to Leonardo
This new storm is exacerbating the environmental and service situation in Portugal, as Storm Leonardo hits the country just one week after the devastating Storm Christine. The previous storm left five dead and caused extensive damage to infrastructure, and some 76,000 people are still without power due to damage to the grid.
Meteorologists indicate that the soil in many areas is already saturated due to the succession of storms, reducing its capacity to absorb further rainfall and increasing the likelihood of flash floods. According to the National Meteorological Agency, Portugal is currently experiencing its second wettest January since 2000, presenting the country with exceptional climate challenges that require concerted local and national efforts to overcome the crisis.
