Storm Kristin has killed at least five people and left more than 850,000 residents of central and northern Portugal without electricity on Wednesday (28 January), as it toppled trees, damaged homes, and disrupted road and rail traffic before moving inland to Spain.
Authorities described the storm as an “extreme climactic event” that left hundreds of thousands without power and transport links crippled.
Storm Kristin swept across Portugal with winds reaching up to 178 km/h, tearing roofs from buildings, toppling trees and forcing school closures.
Civil protection authorities reported more than 3,000 weather-related incidents nationwide, with several people struck by falling trees or debris.
Three deaths were confirmed in the central district of Leiria, one of the hardest-hit areas, while additional fatalities were reported in Vila Franca de Xira and Marinha Grande.
More than 850,000 people lost electricity on Wednesday, according to power distributor E-Redes. Transport was severely disrupted, with roads, including the main motorway linking Lisbon to the north and railway lines blocked by debris.
Leiria’s mayor, Gonçalo Lopes, called for a state of emergency, saying, “We have public spaces turned upside down. It’s something that will require a very large recovery effort in the coming months. The impact is similar to what a bomb could mean in our city.”
A Leiria resident explained how strong the winds were, "The building fell because we have things from up here, and the building over there also doesn't have a roof. Water started coming down inside the homes because even though we have boards, the tiles flew away and the metal sheets broke."
Storm Kristin moves into Spain
After crossing Portugal, Storm Kristin moved into Spain, bringing heavy rain, snow and strong winds.
Spanish emergency services reported around 2,000 weather-related incidents in Andalusia, while the national weather agency AEMET warned of hurricane-force gusts in parts of the country, with red alerts issued in Almería.
More than 160 roads across Spain were affected by snow early on Wednesday, including 27 motorways on the main highway network, among them the A-6 linking Madrid with the northwest. Snow also blanketed rooftops in parts of central Madrid but caused no major disruptions.
Local authorities closed parks, and in some areas outdoor sports and educational activities were suspended.
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Storm Kristin has left central Portugal with severe destruction, major power outages and a reconstruction bill that officials say could reach billions of euros.
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