Tornadoes wreak havoc across central and western Portugal
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.
- Damage affected the districts of Beja, Setúbal, and Santarém.
- Wind speeds reached up to 150 km/h.
Since Friday, central and western Portugal have been grappling with devastating tornadoes. The natural disaster has caused severe damage in many regions, including the districts of Beja, Setúbal, and Santarém.
Portuguese civil protection reports 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 Polish Press Agency, citing local services, wind speeds reached up to 150 km/h, causing significant damage. Residents of the affected regions are dealing 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 monitoring for updates.
Emergency services are working on clearing the aftermath of the tornadoes, and residents are attempting to return to normal. Local authorities are assessing the damage and taking corrective actions. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported from the tornadoes sweeping through Portugal.
Strong winds broke branches and felled trees. Many fell onto roads, temporarily blocking passage. Others took down telephone and power lines, leading to power outages. The fire brigade commander stated that firefighters are working on clearing 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.
