Landslide in Almada forces 20 people to evacuate
Correio da Manhã reports a landslide in Costa da Caparica, Almada, early this morning that affected three houses and prompted the evacuation of about 20 people. Authorities moved residents to safety and are assessing structural risk in the area; local emergency services are coordinating the response. If you live in or travel to coastal cliffs or unstable slopes, follow municipal instructions and avoid affected zones until officials declare them safe. Those with property in the area should check local council advisories and their insurance cover for subsidence damage.
Update: Dust cloud video shows scene; cordons remain in place
CNN Portugal and other outlets published video of a very large dust cloud at the scene; emergency services and Protecção Civil continue to cordon off the area while structural assessments proceed, and authorities say checks on neighbouring buildings are ongoing.
A landslide is the rapid downhill movement of rock, soil or debris, often caused by heavy rain, erosion or unstable slopes. In built areas like Costa da Caparica a landslide can threaten buildings and utilities, prompting authorities to evacuate residents as a safety measure; in emergencies call 112 and follow official instructions.
Civil Protection (Proteção Civil) is Portugal's national system for preventing, preparing for, and responding to disasters and emergencies — from wildfires and floods to earthquakes and storms.
The system is coordinated by the ANEPC (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil), which issues warnings, activates response plans, and coordinates firefighters, police, military, and municipal services. During major events, the ANEPC can activate the SIOPS (Sistema Integrado de Operações de Proteção e Socorro), a unified command structure for managing multi-agency responses.
Portugal's Civil Protection framework operates at three levels — national, district, and municipal — each maintaining its own emergency plans. The system has been under ongoing reform, with emergency associations pushing for clearer single-command structures to reduce confusion between responders during major incidents.
During weather emergencies, Proteção Civil issues safety advisories, may close roads and access routes, and coordinates rescue operations. Residents should follow official ANEPC guidance and call 112 for emergencies.
Inês de Medeiros is a Portuguese actress-turned-politician from the Socialist Party who has served in national politics and later took up local government responsibilities, including becoming mayor of Almada. She is mentioned in this story because the landslide and evacuations in Costa da Caparica on 17 February are matters the Almada municipal government and mayor’s office would handle.
LNEC is Portugal's National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil), a state research and testing body founded in 1946 that provides studies, standards and technical advice on buildings, infrastructure, soils and coasts. Its reports and opinions are often used by public authorities, engineers and courts, so LNEC involvement matters for construction permits, flood assessments and geotechnical disputes.
