After a period of drought, Portugal is now facing rains, floods and devastation

Posted on 12/12/2020 7:22 PM

This photo taken on December 13, 2022 shows an abandoned car in the middle of a flooded street, in Vrelas, on the outskirts of Lisbon on December 13, 2022 (Photo by Carlos Costa/AFP) – (Photo credit: AFP)

Lisbon – After the summer fire season, which caused damage and left many dead, Portugal is now facing heavy rains that have left half of Portuguese territory underwater. The losses are enormous and will require coordinated action by all levels of government to reduce losses to households and businesses. Many people lost their homes and businessmen watched their businesses get swallowed up by mud. The Portuguese capital was one of the hardest hit. In the past 24 hours it has rained as expected for the entire month of December. In the past week, storms have already caused flooding.

From north to south of Portugal, floods are becoming frequent. The situation became so complicated that the mayors of several cities asked citizens not to leave their homes, as the risk of accidents was high. Schools suspended classes, much commerce closed, roads had to be closed, shipping services were limited, and companies recommended their employees work from home. The perspective, according to civil defense chief Andre Fernandez, is that the rains will continue to cause flooding until at least Thursday. Christmas, according to him, will be under water.

Owners of shops and industrial units are calculating losses, and do not know with certainty how they will resume their business. According to the calculations of the Brazilian Silvia Caetano, owner of Light Design, which was completely destroyed, its loss exceeded 500 thousand euros (2.8 million Brazilian reals). Among families, lamentations are great. Many were left homeless overnight. Houses were buried in mud, and furniture and appliances were missing. In some areas, firefighters had to move quickly to rescue citizens who were unable to leave their homes, which were completely closed. There were also requests to help animals.

Count losses

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has called on the federal government to lead the restoration of the city and to build a tunnel to improve water flow in the capital. Portugal’s Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, said it was not yet possible to activate the European Solidarity Fund, angering opposition politicians and even members of his own party, the Socialist Party. “We will act if and when the requirements are verified,” he said. “Portugal has activated (the fund) whenever the requirements to do so have been checked. Now, the first condition is to know the damage estimates. It cannot be launched without predetermining the amount of damage,” he stressed.

Climate scientists attribute heavy rainfall to climate change and recognize that it is inevitable. Portugal, which has been facing a long period of drought, with very serious fires, is now forced to deal with severe storms. According to them, these extreme events will be more frequent. The recommendation is that governments anticipate the facts and create consistent structures to minimize impacts on the population. An effective drainage system is essential. Cities like Lisbon have grown a lot and have not prepared themselves for the new reality. “We are aware of what needs to be done to avoid a lot of inconvenience to the population,” Moedas said.

The scenes of destruction terrified the residents, who were surprised by the power of the water. All the country’s rivers, which until recently were almost empty, have reached their highest levels and are overflowing. No wonder, so many cars were towed and tunnels flooded. The government’s request is to avoid trading in the areas most affected by the rains, such as Lisbon and Jais, which are located in the metropolitan area. The head of the Civil Defense added, “We ask everyone to calm down, but we also recommend staying away from the most affected areas.”