Storm DANA was responsible for several floods in the city of Valencia, Spain, and houses and cars were damaged, in addition to dozens of people dying and missing. Portugal has closely followed all the events in Valencia over the last few weeks and there has been a lot of talk about what could happen if one day it rains as much in our country, as it did in the Spanish city.
What is certain is that precisely a week ago, the Algarve, especially the leeward area, saw many streets flooded. It didn’t rain like it did in Valencia, but there are those who are already thinking about what the scenario will be like on the day when the rains are even more intense. Speaking to Expresso, mayors and experts warn that in the Algarve there is a fundamental problem related to the urban planning of recent decades that allowed cities to build over streams and in floodplains.
“It was not as dramatic a situation as the one experienced in Valencia a few weeks ago, but if it had rained the same amount in the Algarve as it rained in the Spanish region it could have been”, admits Carlos Cabrita, leader of the environmental association Almargem, to Expresso. One of the biggest concerns is related to calls Areas of Significant Potential Flood Risk.
We are talking about areas such as Tavira, Olhão, Albufeira and Castro Marim which, interestingly, were also the locations most affected by last week’s rains. Even though the rains in the Algarve did not come as a surprise, as several warnings had been issued in the previous days, what is known is that the fact that this phenomenon coincided with high tide on spring tide days meant that the consequences were more serious.
Rivers and streams overflowing and flooded roads, streets, houses and commercial establishments was the scenario found in the Algarve. If it had rained as much as in Valencia, the floods would have been identical to those in the Spanish city. It now remains to find solutions to prevent cities built on streams and floodplains from being in such danger when faced with heavy rain.
One of the solutions is to build a dam in Alportel, in order to minimize flooding in downtown Tavira. In Albufeira, for example, there are plans to regularize the flow of the water line that flows into Inatel, as well as the construction of a pumping station in the lower part of the city. It is also planned to build a tunnel to divert the flow of the stream that runs through the center of Reservoir.
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