“There were two fatalities in Fernão Ferro (Seixal) and a total of 32 people displaced in the municipalities of Abrantes, Salvaterra de Magos, Seixal and Pombal,” informed the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), in a statement, in a situation report on the passage of Storm Claudia, which is affecting the territory of mainland Portugal.

The Setúbal Peninsula, with 577 incidents, Greater Lisbon, with 265, and the Algarve, with 251, are the most affected sub-regions, according to ANEPC (National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority), in its assessment of the situations associated with the bad weather recorded between 2pm on Wednesday and 11am today.

Most of the incidents are related to flooding, totalling 1,357 situations, followed by fallen trees (442), road clearing (264), fallen structures (182), and landslides (171), according to Civil Defense.

There were also nine aquatic rescue incidents and nine land rescue incidents, according to ANEPC.

“In response to these incidents, 7,682 personnel were deployed, supported by 2,947 vehicles,” it added.

Prevention

In a statement, ANEPC (National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority) reinforced that the impact of the effects of bad weather can be minimized through appropriate preventive behaviours, particularly in historically more vulnerable areas, by adopting measures such as clearing rainwater drainage systems.

Civil Defense also recommends that citizens exercise special care when circulating and remaining in wooded areas, take precautions when circulating along the coast and riverbanks, and avoid activities related to the sea, such as sport fishing, water sports, and walks along the seashore, as well as parking vehicles along the coastline.

Other preventive measures include defensive driving, reducing speed and paying special attention to the possible formation of water sheets on the roads; not crossing flooded areas, preventing the risk of people or vehicles being swept into holes in the pavement or open sewers; and removing animals, equipment, vehicles, and other belongings from normally flooded areas to safe locations.

Storm Claudia has been affecting mainland Portugal and the Madeira archipelago since Wednesday, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and rough seas, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).

Faro, Setúbal, and Beja are under an orange warning today and Saturday, the second most severe, due to the forecast of rain, with "showers sometimes heavy and accompanied by thunderstorms," ​​according to the IPMA. The other 15 districts of mainland Portugal are under a yellow warning, the least severe, for precipitation, wind, and rough seas.

The orange warning is issued by the IPMA whenever there is a moderate to high risk weather situation, and the yellow warning is issued when there is a risk to certain activities dependent on the weather.