Ana Vieira, a resident of Rua de Ramalde do Meio near Ribeira da Granja in the Ramalde parish, recounted the flooding that occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. today. Ana, who is six months pregnant, reported that water entered her kitchen, damaging a freezer and a sofa, and she had to move her pets from their sleeping area.
Clara Vieira, Ana’s 58-year-old mother living in the house for 37 years, revealed the recurring nature of the flooding, lamenting, “This happens every year,” due to the nearby Granja stream’s overflow.
When questioned about the frequent flooding, Francisco Vieira, Clara’s 62-year-old husband, attributed the problem to unchecked construction activity. “The Porto City Council authorizes rampant construction without ensuring proper rainwater drainage, leading everything to flow toward Ribeira da Granja. This has to stop,” he stated.
Francisco described waking up to find water a meter and a half deep at their doorstep, making it impossible to leave or enter the house. A team from the Voluntary Fire Brigade of Porto was present this morning, working over an hour to drain water from a rainwater well.
“Everything is calmer now at 12:00. I need to assess the damages,” he noted, visibly anxious and chain-smoking.
The Lusa news agency sought comments from the chair of the Ramalde parish council, Patrícia Rapazote, but was unable to obtain any response. The Porto City Council also declined to comment.
Adverse weather conditions led to approximately 70 incidents in Porto overnight. The most severe incident occurred on the Via de Cintura Interna (VCI), requiring the rescue of an elderly woman, according to a city official.
Between 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and 7:00 a.m. today, around 70 incidents, mostly street flooding and structural collapses, were recorded, with the peak occurring at around 6:00 a.m., a source explained.
The most critical situation was on the VCI near the Boavista exit, heading from Arrábida to Freixo, where water accumulation obstructed the road, affecting several vehicles.
Traffic was resumed around 11:00 a.m. in the tunnels of the Bessa and AEP roundabouts and at Campo Alegre in Porto, though the exit from the VCI to Boavista remained restricted, according to the PSP police.
