Civil Protection warned this Thursday, February 5th, of the increased risk of flooding on Friday and Saturday, due to the rise in flows of most rivers and discharges from Spanish dams.
The continuation of the “intense rain recorded in recent days” will cause river flows to rise and could lead to flooding caused by the overflow of the beds of some watercourses, rivers and streams, according to a statement from the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).
Based on the information that the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) made available to ANEPC, river flows will remain high, in particular the Tagus basin, with a “significant upward trend”, particularly the Zêzere, Nabão and Sorraia rivers.
Flows will also remain high and tend to rise in the River Minho, River Lima, River Cávado, River Douro, River Vouga, River Mondego, River Lis, River Sado, River Guadiana, Ribeiras do Arade and the rivers of the Algarve.
Civil Protection also warned of the risk of flooding in urban areas and the formation of water tables.
The lack of traffic on some roads, as they are submerged and collapsed, are other effects of the Leonardo depression that could occur, according to the note.
Civil Protection also warned of the presence of loose objects dragged onto the roads and the possibility of mobile or poorly fixed structures becoming loose due to floods, and these objects and structures can cause road accidents.
Regarding preventive measures, ANEPC called on people to unblock the drainage systems, that is, to remove objects that could be dragged by water onto the roads and that could harm the functioning of the systems.
Civil Protection also asked the population to avoid any type of activity close to watercourses, especially in areas with a history of flooding.
ANEPC also called on people not to park vehicles in historically floodable areas and not to cross flooded areas, preventing citizens or cars from being dragged into holes in the pavement or open sewage tanks.
In the note, Civil Protection asked for the removal of animals from floodable areas and “special care when moving and staying near wooded areas close to watercourses, due to the risk of falling branches and/or trees swept away by the waters”.
Eleven people have died in Portugal since last week following the passage of depressions Kristin and Leonardo, which also caused many hundreds of injuries and displacement.
The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, the fall of trees and structures, the closure of roads, schools and transport services, and the cut of energy, water and communications are the main material consequences of the storm.
The Centro, Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Alentejo regions are the most affected.
The Government declared a state of calamity until Sunday for 68 municipalities and announced a package of support measures of up to 2.5 billion euros.
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