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At least 5 dead and serious damage caused by storm in Portugal
The Portuguese government has acknowledged that the damage caused by Storm Kristin—which struck the central region of the country, primarily on January 28 and 29—was extremely severe. As a result, assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund may be required to finance the reconstruction of the affected areas.
TL;DR
- Storm Kristin struck Portugal on January 28-29, causing severe damage in the central region.
- At least five people have died due to falling trees, infrastructure damage, and flooding.
- The storm brought hurricane-force winds (150-200 km/h), heavy rainfall, and strong coastal waves.
- Consequences included flooding, downed trees, landslides, road/rail closures, and power outages for up to 850,000 homes.
- The districts of Leiria, Coimbra, Santarém, and Lisbon were most affected, with at least 60 municipalities reporting damage.
- Over 3000 incidents were reported nationwide, with blocked roads and damaged buildings.
- A state of emergency was declared in critical areas from January 28 to February 1.
- The Portuguese government is exploring funding options with the European Commission for reconstruction and support.
- Pope Leo XIV conveyed condolences and offered prayers for victims, authorities, and aid organizations.