Paulo Cunha / Lusa
In 2017, the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, comforts the then president of the Municipal Chamber of Pedrógão Grande, Valdemar Alves
First the fire, now the water. To make matters worse, the municipality complains about theft of “equipment essential to the functioning of the electrical distribution network”.
Pedrógão Grande is a name that will forever be associated with the tragic 2017 fires.
In August last year, the trauma of the fire returned with a vengeance. That municipality experienced a great scare, with two violent fire fronts that forced the evacuation of residents from five locations: .
But, After so much fire, water is now the biggest concern for the people of that municipality.
The mayor of Pedrógão Grande, a municipality in the district of Leiria seriously affected by the bad weather that has hit Portugal, estimated that 80% of homes have been affected by bad weather.
“We have thousands of houses affected, 80% are affected,” he said João Marquesto the Lusa agency, adding that around 3,700 water meters are installed in the municipality.
Asked about the state of the municipality, 11 days after the impact of the Kristin depression, the mayor declared that it is a “little better”, noting, however, that the aid provided to the population is still “very weak aid”.
“We are putting tarpaulins, plastic, replacing tiles in less serious situations where tiles are available”, explained the mayor, highlighting the spirit of mutual help that allowed many families, with the help of neighbors, to resolve less serious cases.
US Volunteers in Cape Verde
On the other hand, he highlighted the work of the municipality’s employees, firefighters, GNR, the population, which includes many foreigners, and volunteers who arrive in the municipality.
As an example, he added that a ggroup of people from the USA are in Pedrógão Grande and, next week, another group of Cape Verdeans who studied at the local professional school will join.
“It’s an extraordinary volunteer movement”considered the mayor.
After the storm… the gamanço
According to João Marques, the “big problem” continues to be the lack of electricity in a part of the municipality, aggravated by material theft electric.
“We have areas in the municipality that once had energy and no longer have it because of these thefts”, he stated, ensuring that the authorities are attentive, but “vigilance in relation to electrical infrastructures” is necessary.
In a publication on social media, the municipality of Pedrógão Grande expressed concern about situations of theft of “essential equipment the functioning of the electrical distribution network”.
“These thefts have caused new interruptions in the energy supply in areas that have already been recovered, worsening the inconvenience for the population”, reads the publication, which asks the population for “active surveillance”.
João Marques reiterated the request for solidarity, “especially in aid of labor and construction materials”, for the reconstruction of the municipality.
