Bragança, Portugal
Latest news and stories from Vinhais.
A local council in Portugal is offering a financial incentive of 2500 euros for each newborn to encourage birth rates.
The incentive was created in 2021 with a support of 1,000 euros. In 2025, 20 families were supported.
Images and videos led the IPMA to conclude that a tornado, possibly an EF1, hit Vinhais on Tuesday. Radars located more than 100 km away make official technical confirmation impossible.
Hail, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall were recorded in the Transmontano municipality.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) stated on Thursday, April 9, that the strong wind phenomenon in Vinhais on Tuesday was likely a low-intensity tornado. Meteorologist Jorge Ponte explained that while radar coverage is limited in the region, video evidence suggests a tornado occurred. The event caused significant damage to homes, stables, and trees in the village of Mofreita, with estimated losses between 130,000 and 150,000 euros. The tornado is estimated to have reached speeds of 100 to 150 km/h, potentially classified as EF1 or EF1.5.
Roof tiles torn off, solar panels destroyed, and chestnut trees knocked down in seconds. The village in the Trás-os-Montes region wants to be included in the support schemes created for winter storms.
The mayor highlights that for a small village, the damages are “significant”.
Roofs torn off, chestnut trees destroyed, and a stable left without a cover. The extreme wind that hit Mofreita, in Vinhais, left five structures damaged and the population unable to sleep.
For about 20 minutes, the village was hit by winds that blew off several roofs.
The Vinhais municipality has already made itself available to help the affected people.
The president of the Union of Parishes of Soeira, Fresulfe and Mofreita was on the ground assessing the damage.
A mini-tornado left a trail of destruction in the municipality of Vinhais late Tuesday afternoon. According to the fire department, “considerable damage” was recorded to several homes and agricultural structures.
The alert was given around 7:30 PM and the victim's body will be taken for an autopsy at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Bragança.
