Daily Life: Communications outage news in Portugal

Marcelo calls for swift responses for affected communities, but warns: "This will be a much longer effort than expected"

In Alvaiázere, "more than 95% of the residential and commercial property stock was affected"

The president of Alvaiázere's Municipal Chamber, João Paulo Guerreiro, assesses the situation in his municipality, which he described as severely “devastated” by the passage of storm Kristin. According to the mayor, “it will be difficult to restore the entirety of the electricity supply”, at a time when, more than a week after the storm, only 60% of customers already have electricity — a situation that also looks pessimistic regarding communications, as was evident during the interview with CNN.

Figueiró dos Vinhos remains without electricity and communications

Residents of the village, which has around 25 inhabitants, are unable to contact their relatives.

Almost 200,000 customers remain without electricity

There are still isolated communities without power or communications. This is the case in the merged parish of Colmeias and Memória, in Leiria.

All parishes in Oleiros are without electricity and communications

The mayor said he is in constant contact with E-Redes and mobile communications operators, but emphasised that “the situation is very difficult, despite teams being on the ground”.

GNR in Sertã provides a patrol to enable contact between family members

Officers are providing transport to relatives of people who are without communications or electricity due to the severe weather.

Helicopter flies over Leiria stadium to assess damage

In the city hardest hit by Storm Kristin, there are still blocked roads and communications outages.

Batalha town hall distributes paper notices door-to-door due to communications problems

The Batalha town hall is distributing paper notices door-to-door to residents because of communications problems, the mayor told the Lusa news agency; he is organising a volunteer clean-up of the municipality today. “Yesterday [Friday], as there was no communication across the municipality, we did that — distributing information leaflets...”

Storm Kristin leaves a trail of destruction in Leiria

The country's most affected municipality has been plunged into chaos, with thousands of people without electricity, water or communications.

Storm days: life without water or power and, for many, without work

Hundreds of businesses have been destroyed between Leiria and Pombal; some do not know if they will reopen. Thousands of people are without power, water and communications. A trip to the villages where the nights seem endless.

Collection of goods in several parts of the country. Find out where to help

Drop-off points for food donations are organised by associations, municipal authorities and companies. Several municipalities in Leiria remain without electricity, water and communications due to the Kristin low-pressure system.

"Our territory has been completely swept away": Sertã still without water, power or communications and 15 people displaced

Local officials speak of “very significant damage”, but the priority is to secure the water supply, which is cut off due to the lack of electricity. With the local radio off the air because of the damage, residents have created a WhatsApp group where they exchange information and requests for help.

Residents of Pedrógão Grande forced to fend for themselves after three days without electricity and communications

Residents of Pedrógão Grande remain without electricity and communications for a third consecutive day and complain of a lack of support from public authorities, particularly in the parish of Graça, the area of the municipality hardest hit by Storm Kristin.

Damage 'quite severe' in Porto de Mós

The mayor of Porto de Mós, Jorge Vala, said today that damage in the municipality caused by the bad weather 'is quite severe' to public buildings, businesses and homes, and that the municipality remains without communications or electricity.

Is Portugal still poorly prepared to respond to disasters?

Leiria is isolated without communications and electricity. Disaster response has improved in recent years thanks to lessons learned from past mistakes, but there is still much to do. And is the CDS experiencing an internal conflict?

Leiria: The critical hours after the storm

Four dead, more than 230 injured and a city without power, water or communications. An account of Leiria in the most critical hours after Storm Kristin passed.

In Figueiró dos Vinhos, "anything that can happen, does"

The municipality, like many others, has been left without electricity, without communications and, in some parishes, without water. Problems are expected in holding the presidential elections, and significant flooding is anticipated.

Damage impossible to quantify so far in Leiria

Almost two days after Storm Kristin, the city of Leiria remains without electricity. There is still a shortage of water and communications have not been fully restored.

Restoration of communications 'remains complex' and 'will take longer than during the blackout', admits Anacom

The communications situation after Kristin 'remains complex' and is not comparable to that experienced during the blackout because the depression's passage destroyed infrastructure, Anacom told ECO/eRadar. The restoration of services is expected to take longer than in the blackout — 'a few more days.' 'The communications situation remains complex. Contrary to what ...'

Anacom points out that the main problem is not the restoration of power but the destroyed infrastructure

Sandra Maximiano, president of Anacom, admits that 'the situation remains very complex' and that 'there has been little change compared with yesterday', despite thousands of professionals on the ground trying to restore communications as quickly as possible.

Coimbra 'is already clean' and schools reopened this Thursday

The mayor of Coimbra, Ana Abrunhosa, says she is 'very concerned' about the 'thousands of people who remain without electricity, water and communications'.

Many areas of Leiria remain without electricity, water and communications

The president of Leiria City Council hopes the water supply to the entire municipality will be restored later on Thursday. Work to restore electricity and to clean the streets is also under way.

"We are completely desperate." Mayor of Figueiró dos Vinhos asks for help and declaration of a state of calamity

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 ...”

Kristin devastated Leiria and cut it off from the world: "It was worse than the blackout"

Fallen trees, roof tiles scattered on the ground and shops closed — Storm Kristin left a trail of destruction in Leiria. It was impossible to communicate with the outside world, and the early‑morning 'boom' frightened residents.

18:00 — Thousands of people remain without power and communications

At 18:00, thousands of people are still without electricity and means of communication.