According to the mayor of this municipality in the district of Aveiro and the Metropolitan Area of Porto, speaking to Lusa, there are pupils who, because they live in risk areas, will not be going to school all day, even though these educational establishments will continue to operate for children from safer locations, and there are also schools that will close completely from lunchtime onwards.

“There are some pupils who, given the distance to school and the forecast of snowfall, will not be coming to school at all today,” said Margarida Belém, justifying the measure with the need to avoid travelling on mountain roads that are covered in ice.

The measure is related to forecasts of a sharp drop in temperatures and snowfall, "which could fall in areas at an altitude of 500 to 600 metres, being more likely in parishes such as Cabreiros, Albergaria da Serra, Canelas, Espiunca, Alvarenga, Urrô, Moldes, Arouca, Burgo and the higher areas of Rossas and Santa Eulália".

“Taking this forecast into account, the municipality – in conjunction with the Arouca School Group, those responsible for special transport routes and the UNIR metropolitan transport network – has adjusted school transport routes covering the parishes where snowfall is expected, with a view to ensuring everyone’s safety,” announced Margarida Belém.

In practice, in the mountain villages of Merujal, Albergaria and Mizarela, five pre-school to 4th grade pupils and another five 5th to 12th grade pupils will stay at home, all avoiding the UNIR route.

Thirteen pupils from Noninha and Bustelo will also not attend classes “due to transport difficulties”.

At the Alvarenga and Canelas school centres, the schools are open in the morning but close after lunch, sending 46 and 38 pupils home respectively.

Students from the parish of Alvarenga who attend 5th to 12th grade also do not attend classes all day, “given the impossibility of ensuring their return home at lunchtime and the return of the bus to the Transport Coordination Centre”.

As for students in grades 5 to 12 who live in Canelas, Provisende, Souto Redondo and Póvoa Reguenga, they also return home after lunch on a UNIR bus.