Tornado chaos: Portugal battles destruction after fierce storms
Four tornadoes struck central and western Portugal, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. The districts of Beja, Setúbal, and Santarém were the hardest hit.
Key information
- Four tornadoes have hit Portugal since Friday.
- The damage affected the districts of Beja, Setúbal, and Santarém.
- Wind speeds reached up to 93 mph.
Since Friday, central and western Portugal have been contending with devastating tornadoes. This natural disaster has caused severe damage in many regions, including the districts of Beja, Setúbal, and Santarém.
Portuguese civil protection officials report that the tornadoes tore roofs off houses, shattered windows, and destroyed power lines. In the resort of Sesimbra, strong winds devastated the port, and in the municipality of Sardoal, trees were uprooted.
According to the CNN citing local services, wind speeds reached up to 93 mph, causing significant damage. Residents of the affected regions are grappling with power outages and infrastructure damage.
Meteorological warnings
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) is monitoring the situation and warning of possible further weather events. Authorities are urging caution and keeping a close eye on updates.
Emergency services are working on clearing the aftermath of the tornadoes, and residents are trying to return to normalcy. Local authorities are assessing the damage and implementing corrective actions. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported from the tornadoes sweeping through Portugal.
Strong winds broke branches and felled trees, many of which landed on roads, temporarily blocking passage. Others took down telephone and power lines, leading to power outages. The fire brigade commander stated that firefighters were working hard to clear the storm's aftermath.
CNN Portugal reported that the tornado hit the port of Sesimbra and capsized a ship. No one was on board at the time of the incident.
