Storm Kristin has left central Portugal with severe destruction, major power outages and a reconstruction bill that officials say could reach billions of euros.
Hundreds of homes in central Portugal were left without roofs after last week's storm, and tens of thousands of people lost power as residents queued for basic building materials.
The storm struck early on Wednesday (28 January) with wind gusts hitting 200 kph and heavy rain that uprooted trees across several districts.
At least six people were killed and hundreds of thousands of households were initially cut off from electricity.
In Leiria, one of the hardest hit areas, people described sudden and violent damage. Paula Franco, standing in line for donated tiles to repair her home, said, "The roof blew off, all the windowpanes are broken, everything is chaos and misery."
The region, known for its plastics and metalworking industries, reported extensive damage to homes, schools, factories and transport links. At the Monte Real air base, several aircraft, including F16 fighter jets, were damaged.
Portugal's government approved a €2.5 billion package of loans and incentives to help people and businesses rebuild.
Officials said they may also seek grants from the European Solidarity Fund and unused European Union recovery money to support the effort. Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho said nearly 170,000 households were still without power on Monday (2 February).
Damage in the Leiria region alone could total between €1.5 billion and €2 billion, according to Henrique Carvalho, president of the Leiria Business Association. He told broadcaster NOW that early assessments suggest losses on a massive scale.
Authorities said teams are still reaching remote areas and warned that the numbers may rise.
The government extended a state of calamity across 69 municipalities until 8 February, with forecasts pointing to more rain and possible flooding in the coming days.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lift...
The United States and Iran have reached a deal to end their war, U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on ...
Senior officials from Azerbaijan and Armenia held a working meeting in Dilijan, Armenia, on 14 June to discuss issues related to the peace agenda betw...
Tajikistan has strengthened its position as one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing economies. According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and D...
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 to close out the series 4-1 and claim their first NBA championship since 1973, sparking celeb...
Soaring temperatures across Europe have broken records in Portugal and sparked heat alerts in Italy and France, affecting events including the French Open tennis tournament.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 29 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The U.S. ambassador to Portugal has urged Lisbon to replace its ageing F-16 fighter jets with Lockheed Martin’s F-35, saying the stealth aircraft would ensure compatibility with Europe’s top-tier air forces.
Portugal's parliament approved a bill on Thursday (12 February), on its first reading, requiring explicit parental consent for children aged 13 to 16-years old to access social media, in one of the first concrete legislative moves in Europe to impose such restrictions.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
Armenia has every right to choose Europe. But Europe’s support for Armenia’s direction should not become automatic approval of its political process.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
Japan’s birth rate and fertility levels have fallen to their lowest levels on record, highlighting the country’s worsening demographic crisis as fewer people marry and have children.
The global race to develop quantum computing is accelerating, with governments and technology firms investing heavily in what is expected to become a major new computing era.
France’s parliament has formally recognised state responsibility for the use of the toxic pesticide chlordecone in Martinique and Guadeloupe, marking a significant step in addressing decades of environmental contamination and public health concerns.
Financial markets are significantly underestimating the economic impact of biodiversity loss, potentially leaving countries exposed to sovereign debt crises and rising borrowing costs, according to new research published on Friday.
Wildlife researchers have identified dozens of previously unknown insect species during an expedition to Angola’s remote Lisima Plateau, a conservation group announced on Wednesday.
Global weather forecasters predict a strong El Niño will develop in the second half of 2026, bringing hotter, drier conditions to much of Asia while increasing rainfall in parts of North and South America.
Google has asked U.S. regulators for permission to release up to 32 million sterilised mosquitoes in California and Florida as part of its experimental “Debug” programme aimed at reducing populations of disease-carrying insects.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment