The mayor of Figueiró dos Vinhos, in the district of Leiria, on Thursday asked for help and for the declaration of a state of calamity, warning that the municipality, due to bad weather, is “living through one of the worst moments in its history.” “I'm calling from the firefighters' satellite phone because, in fact, we have no communications. No network ...”
"We are completely desperate." Mayor of Figueiró dos Vinhos asks for help and declaration of a state of calamity
Thursday, 29 January 2026RSS
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.
