Fresh heavy rain has worsened flooding across northern Portugal, forcing precautionary evacuations around the historic city of Coimbra as authorities warn that river levees and a nearby dam face mounting pressure.
Flood risk escalates after weeks of storms
After weeks of destructive storms that have already killed at least 15 people, new downpours driven by an “atmospheric river” — a moisture-rich air corridor from the tropics — have hit northern regions particularly hard.
In Coimbra, authorities ordered the evacuation of about 3,000 residents living near the River Mondego amid fears the river could burst its banks. Police conducted door-to-door checks while buses transported residents to temporary shelters.
Civil Protection officials warned that rainfall through Thursday could push the Aguieira dam, northeast of Coimbra, toward overflow — a scenario that could damage levees and trigger further flooding downstream.
Infrastructure damage and emergency response
The storms have already caused structural damage in Coimbra, where part of the city’s ancient hillside wall collapsed, forcing road closures and shutting the municipal market.
Elsewhere in central Portugal, authorities evacuated the riverside village of Porto Brandão due to landslide risks, while about 30 residents were removed from homes in nearby Caparica after a slope failure.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro is expected to visit Coimbra to oversee emergency operations. The visit comes after Interior Minister Maria Lucia Amaral resigned amid criticism over the handling of an earlier storm response.
Bigger picture
The back-to-back storm systems highlight how vulnerable river basins and historic urban infrastructure can be to prolonged rainfall. Emergency teams remain on high alert as water levels and soil saturation continue to pose risks of flooding and landslides.
