Portuguese authorities are responding to the aftermath of severe storms that have impacted the country over the past several weeks. While conditions have improved, recovery efforts continue as officials assess damage and address ongoing concerns.
As of 4 a.m. Monday, February 16, 2026, civil protection agencies reported 95 incidents, a significant decrease from the 145 recorded on Saturday. Since February 1, a total of 19,066 incidents have been registered, according to officials.
The declaration of a state of calamity has been lifted as the weather stabilizes, allowing for the implementation of decisions to prevent, respond to, and restore normalcy in affected areas.
The Sorraia River is receding, and the town of Coruche is returning to normal, though some road connections remain closed. Local officials told RTP that not all roadways have been reopened.
Several roads remain submerged, hindering traffic in the municipality, which experienced historically high levels of flooding. Numerous homes and businesses have been destroyed, and damage assessments are ongoing.
Water levels in the Ribeira de Santarém reached over three feet due to the Tejo River, prompting evacuations. The situation is now calmer, according to reports.
Traffic has resumed, and cleanup operations are underway. Access to the Reguengo do Alviela area remains restricted.
Toll fees have been reinstated on roads previously exempted due to Storm Kristin. The waiver, which began on February 4, ended Sunday and included sections of the A8, A17, A14, and A19 highways.
Requests to continue toll exemptions in Leiria
The Chega party has called for an extension of the state of calamity until the end of the month, expanding it to other municipalities in the western region, and maintaining toll exemptions. The request is based on “ongoing meteorological instability, destroyed homes and businesses, and damages yet to be tallied.”
“We see imperative that all public resources, ordinary and exceptional, continue to be mobilized in the coming weeks, ensuring an effective and swift response to affected populations,” party leaders stated.
A couple in their late 60s and early 70s from the municipality of Montemor-o-Velho, in the Coimbra district, has been missing since Friday. Searches are scheduled to resume Monday.
The couple, residents of Verride, left home and did not return, prompting a family alert at 7:45 p.m. On Friday.
Sixteen people have died in Portugal as a result of storms Kristin, Leonardo, and Marta, with hundreds more injured and displaced. Thousands remain without electricity and communication services. Businesses are reporting significant losses, and You’ll see complaints about delays in receiving aid.
The Central, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, and Alentejo regions are the most affected.
Work to temporarily contain a breach in the Mondego River dike near Highway 1 is scheduled to begin Monday morning.
In an interview with RTP, the president of the Portuguese Environment Agency said that the rain forecast for the coming days is not expected to have a significant impact.
The President of the Portuguese Environment Agency likewise stated that the recent days have shown that the Mondego River’s hydraulic system needs to be adjusted.
