Santarém, Portugal
Latest news and stories from Ferreira do Zêzere.
The mayor of Ferreira do Zêzere, Bruno Gomes, explains the difficulty of clearing all forest tracks. He stresses the need for skilled labour to carry out roof repairs.
In the parish of Frazoeira, in Ferreira do Zêzere, CNN Portugal reporter Miguel Fernandes is covering the work to clear the many roads blocked by fallen trees and toppled poles.
In the municipality of Ferreira do Zêzere, the main concern right now is the isolation of residents affected by the bad weather of the past few days. CNN Portugal reporter Miguel Fernandes, in the village of Dornes, hears testimony from people trying to minimise the damage even though their homes are without electricity and water.
On his half-hectare plot, Leonardo Francisco lists avocado trees, strawberry trees and old, mature trees — 'nothing was left standing'.
Armed with a chainsaw and with the help of two neighbours, Carlos Alberto (pictured) restored access between two villages in Ferreira do Zêzere. “We had to do it by hand.”
In Ferreira do Zêzere, the President of the Republic sought to reassure local communities, implicitly recognising failures of the national system in its response to the storm. On the ground, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa heard complaints from residents who have been without electricity, water or communications for several days, as reporter Miguel Fernandes reports.
The President of the Republic stresses that restoring electricity and communications is the immediate priority in the affected areas, also warning about long-standing structural weaknesses. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa urges the public to be cautious and calls for a collective, coordinated response from the State, advocating calm and preventive measures.
Bruno Gomes, president of Ferreira do Zêzere, says the municipality still has more than 85% of its territory without electricity and communications after the storm and criticises the Government's “lack of leadership”.
The mayor of Ferreira do Zêzere reports very extensive damage in the locality in the wake of Depression Kristin.
The town council of Ferreira do Zêzere will ask the Government to declare a state of calamity in the municipality following the damage caused by the passage of Storm Kristin; it is the third municipality to do so, after Leiria and Nazaré.
