Prime Minister monitors situation and stresses articulation with Spain to prevent flooding

The Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro visited Peso da Régua to follow on the ground the evolution of the situation caused by the bad weather, reiterating the Government’s focus in responding immediately to hazardous situations, protecting the populations, and reconstructing the areas hit.

During the visit, the Head of Government stressed that phenomena such as the floods in the Tagus, Mondego, and Sado basins require quick and preventive action, noting the importance of warning the populations, avoiding dangerous situations and forecasting the next few days to guarantee response capabilities in scenarios of added pressure.

"We have a specific programme for the municipalities that suffered the greatest effect of storm Kristin, and which are in a disaster state, but we will not cease to protect or follow up on what is necessary throughout the country", he stated.

Articulation with Spain in managing flows

The Prime Minister also indicated the "permanent articulation" between Portugal and Spain in managing water releases from dams, considering this coordination fundamental to avoid more severe consequences, namely on the Douro River.

According to Luís Montenegro, this joint work, which has been going on for several weeks, involved a permanent contact between both Government sand the bodies charged with managing water resources in a particularly sensitive context due to the weather conditions that are affecting both countries.

"This articulation has been truly fundamental to avoid worse situations", he stressed.

Loss estimates and assistance allocation

The Prime Minister recalled the estimate put forward the day before, which indicated losses above four billion euros due to the bad weather, ensuring that the Government is using all the financial instruments on hand to assist with the recovery.

Credit facilities are still open to companies, as well as assistance to rebuilding homes, measures for the agricultural sector, and social response mechanisms in an endeavour that mobilises public, private, and social sector resources.

According to the most recent figures:

• More than 1,650 companies have applied to the credit facilities in a sum close to 400 million euros

• Around 1,200 households applied to rebuild their homes

• Approximately 8,000 people have already interacted with the assistance platform

• More than 1,400 farmers applied to recover losses"

We have work geared towards recovering what has happened and other work that is fully concentrated on the emergency of what is happening right now throughout the country", he emphasised.

The Government reiterates that the response to the current situation requires national solidarity and coordinated action between all levels of governance to guarantee the populations are safe and speed up recovery in the areas struck.