Latest news and stories about public safety in environment in Coimbra, Portugal for expats and residents.
Fernando Seabra Santos argues that allowing vegetation to grow on embankment levees along the Mondego River is a dangerous practice that reflects a disregard for public safety and infrastructure heritage rather than environmental stewardship.
After destructive 208 km/h winds from Storm Kristin, the municipality of Soure faces a second crisis: imminent flooding. Authorities and residents are preparing for rapid inundation, with low-lying areas such as Miragaia in Porto — including the Ribeira — identified as first at risk; local voices say preventing severe damage will require extraordinary measures. The situation highlights compounded hazards for infrastructure and public safety, testing emergency services' capacity and the need for immediate, coordinated flood mitigation and evacuation planning.
Coimbra authorities will begin preparing measures to prevent a potential evacuation after water releases at the Aguieira dam, the mayor told Lusa. Officials will closely monitor river levels and conditions to assess whether evacuation of people and animals becomes necessary and to coordinate public-safety and emergency-response actions if flood risk increases.
The firefighters took advantage of this week's drop in temperatures to clear the land.
According to the report — released today by the newspaper Público and accessed by Lusa — the region hit by the storm is “a territory still vulnerable to the arrival of summer”.
The Special Rural Firefighting Device (DECIR) for the Coimbra region was presented this Friday in Coimbra.
60 personnel were mobilised to the scene.
At 06:30, 60 operational personnel were on site
A fire broke out this morning at a plastic recycling facility located in Coimbra.
A fire broke out at a plastic recycling facility in Coimbra at 8:00 AM.
Sixty personnel were fighting a fire at a plastic recycling waste facility in Taveiro at 06:30, which caused no casualties, a source from the Coimbra Sub-Regional Command told Lusa.
Sixty firefighters were battling a fire at a plastic recycling waste facility in Taveiro at 06:30, which caused no casualties, a source from the Coimbra Sub-Regional Command told Lusa.
The alert was given at 3:16 am and the fire is still active.
60 personnel were mobilised to the scene.
At 6:30 am, 60 firefighters from the Coimbra Volunteer Fire Department were on the scene. The fire broke out in a warehouse of a recycling waste company in Taveiro and is still active.
The suspect allegedly started the fires “using direct flame, near forest paths, in areas with vast forest cover and adjacent to urban zones.”
The arrested suspect allegedly started fires using direct flame near forest paths in Figueira da Foz. The rapid intervention of firefighters prevented the fire from reaching larger proportions.
The suspect allegedly started the fires “using direct flame, near forest paths, in areas with vast forest cover and adjacent to urban zones.”
Three months after the Casais dike burst, water will flow again starting this Friday in the Mondego irrigation canals in Coimbra. The opening of the main canal's sluice gates will be performed by the Minister of Environment this morning.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain also caused landslides near five homes in the village of Chão Sobral.
There are no “victims to report so far” nor displaced persons, said a source from the local authority. There were two dozen incidents in the municipality due to the storm this Wednesday.
The shed was located in a forest area in the town of Vila Verde, and the rapid intervention of firefighters and some residents prevented the fire from reaching more serious proportions.
The President of the Assembly of the Republic has scheduled the installation of the independent technical commission on last August's wildfires for the 22nd, with a 60-day mandate, extendable by another 30 days.
António José Seguro says that everyone is needed to help those affected by the storms and highlights the importance of the Government's role.
The Coimbra Metropolitan Region (RMC) has reported delays in the payment of support funds to municipalities affected by the summer 2025 wildfires, a situation that exacerbates losses following the storms and floods earlier in the year.
The Coimbra Metropolitan Region (RMC) has reported delays in the payment of support funds to municipalities affected by the summer 2025 wildfires, a situation that exacerbates losses following the storms and floods earlier in the year. In a report detailing the damage from the 'train of storms' and flooding in January and February, sent...
The situation exacerbates losses following the storms and floods from the beginning of the year.
35 million euros will be invested in the five municipalities most affected by the floods on the Mondego. The Minister of Environment and Energy was in Coimbra this Wednesday morning.
Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, has committed to taking the issue to the Minister of Agriculture, José Manuel Fernandes.
