Alcácer do Sal municipal council will ask the Government to declare a state of calamity

Thursday, 29 January 2026RSS
Alcácer do Sal municipal council will ask the Government to declare a state of calamity

The Sado River caused several floods in the town centre, particularly on Avenida dos Aviadores, the most critical area of Alcácer do Sal, in Setúbal.

Context & Explainers

A state of calamity (situação de calamidade) is the highest level of civil emergency Portugal can declare under its Civil Protection framework, short of a constitutional state of emergency. It is typically declared by the government in response to severe natural disasters such as major wildfires, floods, or storms.

A calamity declaration activates the National Civil Protection Emergency Plan, mobilizes additional resources, and grants authorities expanded powers to restrict movement, requisition private property, and deploy military assets. It also unlocks emergency financial support for affected populations and municipalities.

Portugal uses a three-tier alert system: alerta (alert), contingência (contingency), and calamidade (calamity), each with escalating levels of coordination and authority. The state of calamity requires coordination between the national government, ANEPC, local authorities, and emergency services.

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