The ground is saturated and cannot absorb water. Snow has fallen, temperatures are rising and the snow will turn into water. More water will be reaching our rivers and reservoirs, adding to heavy rainfall. We are closely monitoring the situation and the public should heed Civil Protection warnings," warns the president of the APA.
Flood risk alert north of the Mondego and across the Tagus basin: a week of "a lot of water, a lot of rain" is coming
Sunday, 25 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Civil Protection (Proteção Civil) is Portugal's national system for preventing, preparing for, and responding to disasters and emergencies — from wildfires and floods to earthquakes and storms.
The system is coordinated by the ANEPC (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil), which issues warnings, activates response plans, and coordinates firefighters, police, military, and municipal services. During major events, the ANEPC can activate the SIOPS (Sistema Integrado de Operações de Proteção e Socorro), a unified command structure for managing multi-agency responses.
Portugal's Civil Protection framework operates at three levels — national, district, and municipal — each maintaining its own emergency plans. The system has been under ongoing reform, with emergency associations pushing for clearer single-command structures to reduce confusion between responders during major incidents.
During weather emergencies, Proteção Civil issues safety advisories, may close roads and access routes, and coordinates rescue operations. Residents should follow official ANEPC guidance and call 112 for emergencies.
