In a statement, the national express bus network listed the following destinations: Leiria, Marinha Grande, Pombal, Fátima, Castelo Branco, Santarém, and Torres Novas.

“This solidarity initiative applies to trips from anywhere in the country to these regions and arises as a response to the urgent need to facilitate the movement of family members, volunteers, support teams, and citizens who wish to provide assistance on the ground,” the company stated.

Rede Expresso says it has already registered, since Thursday, “a very significant demand” for its services, “reflecting an immediate collective mobilisation marked by a spirit of mutual help and a willingness to respond to the needs of the affected populations.”

“Faced with situations of this magnitude, we believe that we all have a role to play. Facilitating mobility to the most affected areas is a concrete way to support populations and ensure support reaches where it is needed. Rede Expressos is part of this national solidarity effort, because helping is part of who we are as a country and of the spirit of solidarity that defines the Portuguese people,” says the general director of Rede Expressos, Nelson Silva, quoted in the statement.

The passage of Storm Kristin through mainland Portugal on Wednesday left a trail of destruction, causing at least six deaths, several injuries, and displacing people.

Fallen trees and structures, road closures or disruptions to transport services, especially railway lines, school closures, and power, water, and communication outages were the main material consequences of the storm.

Leiria, where the storm made landfall, Coimbra, and Santarém are the districts that have suffered the most damage.

The government has declared a state of emergency from 12am on Wednesday until 11.59pm on 1 February in approximately 60 municipalities, with the number expected to increase.