Areas affected by Storm Kristin will be exempt from tolls for a week

The measure was being demanded by mayors in the most affected regions and will come into force at midnight.

The Prime Minister announced today that the Government will exempt from tolls for a week the areas affected by the Kristin depression, in the perimeter that will cover sections of A8, A17, A14 and A19.

The exemption will begin at midnight and will last for a week, announced Luís Montenegro, during a visit to a company in Pombal.

Asked if there has already been any decision from the Government regarding the exemption from tolls, one claim from several mayorsthe prime minister responded that the executive was precisely “finalizing that decision”.

“A period of toll exemption will come into force at midnight today until midnight today for eight days. Precisely to help with all the most urgent movements and emerging areas in a perimeter, which will be public, but which will involve the A8, A17, A14 and A19 and which will naturally target routes within the affected area”, he explained.

On Monday, the president of the Municipal Council of Marinha Grande, Paulo Vicente, demanded the immediate exemption from paying tolls on the section of highway 8 (A8) that serves the municipality, between Marinha Grande and Leiria.

In the same sense, the Chamber of Montemor-o-Velho requested temporary suspension payment of tolls on Highway 14 (A14), while restrictions are maintained on several roads in the municipality, following the Kristin depression.

Ten people died since last week following bad weather. Civil Protection recorded five deaths directly associated with the passage of the Kristin depression and the Câmara da Marinha Grande announced another fatality, to which were added four deaths recorded due to falls from roofs (during repairs) or poisoning originating from a generator.

A total or partial destruction of housescompanies and equipment, falling trees and structures, cuts or restrictions on roads and transport services, especially railway lines, the closure of schools and power, water and communications cuts are the main material consequences of the storm, which caused hundreds of injuries and displacement.

Leiria, Coimbra and Santarém These are the districts with the most damage.

The Government declared a state of calamity until next Sunday for 69 municipalities and announced a package of support measures of up to 2.5 billion euros.