Vítor Costa, the mayor of Vila do Conde, reassured that “there are no victims, only material damage,” as he oversees operations conducted “with all available resources,” including Civil Protection, Vila do Conde Firefighters, and various municipal services.
“We are still dealing with the first house, and the operation will last all afternoon and probably into the night. These are lengthy operations due to significant damage to some homes,” he noted.
The most affected homes are located near the Lage stream, which overflowed due to increased rainfall, collapsing walls and flooding yards and homes.
Many homes have rooms completely submerged, and several residents, especially an elderly couple and a man living alone, have lost essential belongings.
“Some of these families have lost a great deal, but we are doing everything possible to ensure their comfort during this time,” emphasized Vítor Costa.
Despite the damage, the mayor confirmed that “there was no need for relocations since all residents have sufficient family support to get through the next few days.”
“Nonetheless, we have prepared a preventive shelter center in case the weather worsens again. We are monitoring the situation continuously,” he added.
On-site, the scene is one of disappointment for residents, coupled with immediate cleaning efforts. Doors are open for airing, objects are leaned against walls, and buckets, hoses, and brooms are used to remove the lingering mud visible in the streets and inside homes.
A Vila do Conde Fire Department vehicle equipped with a water pump is stationed near the hardest-hit homes, removing water mainly from basements, while municipal services are working to clear the collapsed walls.
Vítor Costa expressed concern about the possibility of another heavy rain peak late in the afternoon and overnight, which will require “keeping all resources on the ground, on alert, for what may happen in the coming hours.”
The mayor lamented that such events expose certain structural weaknesses in the country, exceeding municipal capabilities.
“No infrastructure is prepared for these extreme events, which are increasingly frequent. We must rethink territorial and preventive measures, and planning issues must be taken very seriously. The solution is not easy, but we must act collectively,” he urged.
In addition to this critical situation in the parish of Modivas, the mayor reported “numerous incidents throughout the county since Friday night, prompting interventions by firefighters and municipal teams.”
