12pm: 11,000 people have requested aid for home reconstruction in Leiria
As of midday, 11,000 individuals have sought assistance to rebuild their homes following the events in Leiria.

Latest news and stories about emergency aid in Portugal for expats and residents.
As of midday, 11,000 individuals have sought assistance to rebuild their homes following the events in Leiria.

The tragedy that devastated the country still haunts the population today. 76-year-old Alzira Louro lost part of her house's roof and another structure used as a garage.

The 450 million euros from the European Commission's agricultural reserve are insufficient to cover all the damages caused by the floods in Portugal, according to Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. He visited the most affected areas on February 17. Despite this, he stated that the European Commission will act urgently to support Portugal. Hansen mentioned that the available 450 million euros will not increase, necessitating consideration of other instruments, as other European regions are also facing severe weather-related issues. One potential mechanism could be the European Social Fund, which allows for rapid disbursement of up to 25% of the amount. He assured that farmers will continue to receive subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), even if they cannot maintain the same level of production due to damages. Hansen confirmed that the government has already requested the activation of the EU agricultural reserve and that Brussels is reviewing the submitted data. He also mentioned being in contact with the European Investment Bank to develop a European agricultural reinsurance mechanism, emphasizing that many farmers cannot afford to lose everything every eight years without adequate protection. He described Portugal as 'the garden of Europe', noting that the country produces around 2.5 billion euros worth of fruits and berries, and highlighted that the destruction of crops threatens European food security. In a message posted in both English and Portuguese on social media, he stated: 'When one country in the Union suffers, we all suffer. We mourn and together we will rebuild.'

Announcement made by the Prime Minister in Pombal. It covers stretches of the A8, A17, A14 and A19. Report available to listen to on this news bulletin. Seguro visited the worst-affected areas to call for rapid assistance.

Requests for assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund, adjustments to the PRR (Recovery and Resilience Plan), further aid packages for families and businesses: all of this will have to wait because more 'damage' may be on the way.

Home News Government announces 14 support measures following Storm Kristin Government announces 14 support measures following Storm Kristin The government has approved a package of 14 support measures to respond to the damage caused by Storm Kristin, with a financial impact that could reach €2.

The Government has launched a package of measures to support businesses in areas affected by the calamity and those struggling to keep operating. Many of the measures mirror aid programmes used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the logistics hub beside the stadium, queues form from the start of the day. And not even the rain puts off those who need help.

On the fifth day after the storm, in the rain, residents of Marinha Grande in the Leiria district choose the type of roof tile they need and take home tarpaulins to cover what the wind blew away.

REN (National Energy Networks) and insurer Fidelidade joined forces to support populations most affected by Storm Kristin, which has already caused more than five deaths, by providing around 31,000 square metres of tarpaulins for the temporary protection of damaged infrastructure, mainly in Coimbra, Pombal and Leiria. According to ...

Damage caused by the bad weather continues to shape the election campaign ahead of the second round of voting.

The leader of Chega visited an agricultural operation, where he sought to reassure people affected by the storm and urged that future aid be made available to the region's business owners quickly and with minimal bureaucracy.

The Business Association of the Coimbra Region (NERC) today asked the Government to urgently take extraordinary measures to support companies that have suffered “significant damage to their premises, equipment and operations” due to Storm Kristin.
