The passage of Martinho depression in mainland Portugal, with wind, rain and sea agitation, caused a total of 5,800 occurrences between 00:00 on Wednesday and 11:00 this Thursday, especially falling trees, but also rural fires.
In the balance of occurrences recorded due to bad weather, Civil Protection also highlighted a total of 48 rural fires in the Northern Region, specifically in the Valdevez Arcos Zone, in Viana do Castelo district, considering that “it is not usual for this time of year” and demonstrates “the misuse of fire” in a very strong wind context.
Regarding the total of 5,800 occurrences, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (APENPC) said that the highest incidence was in the area of Greater Lisbon (35%), followed by Setúbal, Porto and Coimbra, especially falling trees and objects and some floods, which caused 15 disrupted and 13 people.
Prior to this balance, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said on Thursday morning in Brussels that the meteorological situation in Portugal “is very stabilized” and announced that the government is prepared to trigger any necessary means.
In addition to the continent, the Autonomous Region of Madeira was also affected by the Martinho Depression, with the Regional Civil Protection Service and Madeira Firefighters to record about 130 occurrences due to bad weather, including the fall of a wall on a housing that caused three homeless.
As for the forecast for the coming days, Anepc warned that the scenario of “rain and strong wind until Saturday” will remain, although it could record “some displeasure”, and warned that it is possible to record “extreme wind phenomena, especially in the coastal zone and in the country’s central and southern zone”, and that maritime agitation will remain permanent on the coast of mainland Portugal.
“On the other hand, we will now begin to feel the drainage of watersheds and an increase in river flow, with the possibility of flooding and floods,” warned Alexandre Penha, anepc deputy operations, indicating that rivers in the northern region will have “some substantial flow increase” and the biggest concern is with the basins of the Mondego, Tagus and Guadian rivers.
In this sense, Civil Protection has reinforced the recommendations to the population to avoid “unnecessary risks in times of greater intensification of these meteorological phenomena”, suggesting that dislocations are avoided and cleaning the drainage systems.
Of the displaced people, 13 were following damage caused by the strong winds in the housing in which they reside in Miragaia, Lourinhã, Lisbon district.
Also dozens of users of a campsite on Pinhal Novo, in the municipality of Palmela, Setúbal, were forced to leave the homes at night and to concentrate on a coffee due to the risk of falling trees.
In the city of Lisbon, in a balance sheet until 10:00, the House reported that there were six people injured at night and at least 638 occurrences, especially tree falls.
On Wednesday afternoon, a person was seriously injured after being hit by a tree in the municipality of Sintra, Lisbon district.
As a result of bad weather, the circulation of the 25th of April Bridge, which ensures the Lisbon connection-Setúbal, was suspended Thursday morning between Coina and Roma-Areiro station. This Thursday also registered problems in the rail circulation on the lines of Cascais, Douro and Beira Alta, said the CP-Comboios de Portugal.
At 12:00 this Thursday, according to Portugal Infrastructures (IP), the rail circulation on the Cascais line due to significant damage to a catenary was interrupted, while the North Line was conditioned between Bobadela and Alverca.
Following the adverse atmospheric conditions, there was a need to cut roads and end schools for lack of electricity, including in the municipality of Pombal (Leiria district), as well as closing museums, including in Sintra (Lisbon district). There are several material damage in mainland Portugal, including cars damaged by tree fall.
The power grid of 82,000 E-Redes customers was at 7:30 am on Thursday with major embarrassment, with the districts of Leiria, Coimbra and Viana do Castelo the most affected, said the company of the EDP group, which at 10:00 informed that about 50,000 customers were still without power.
The strong wave forced this Thursday to the closing of 18 sea bars, mostly in the north and south of mainland Portugal, according to the ‘website’ of the Navy.
The districts of Lisbon, Setúbal and Leiria are since 06:00 on Wednesday under Yellow Meteorological Warning due to heavy rain, then the orange and extending to Faro and Beja due to the passage of the depression Martinho, according to data from the Portuguese Institute of Sea and the atmosphere ().
In addition to rain, Martinho depression includes wind and strong ripple until Thursday, especially in the central and southern regions of mainland Portugal.
Also read:
