The meteorologist Paula Leitão from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) clarified this Saturday that the phenomenon striking the Albufeira Camping Park, causing a fatality, “was clearly a tornado.” The specialist warned that the frontal surface had traversed the entire national territory and would pass through “the eastern part of Algarve” throughout the afternoon, indicating that “conditions still exist for such a situation to occur” in that area.
Upon analyzing images of the campsite, the specialist noted that “there was a whirlwind in the sky, clouds descended to the surface in a whirlwind, with many objects projected,” emphasizing that “this was clearly a tornado.”
“The way objects were uprooted from the ground and those in the air were thrown against walls, with some embedded, are typical tornado situations,” she said to SIC Notícias.
Paula Leitão also pointed out that “there was a rotating convective cell” on the weather radar, a phenomenon that “sometimes produces tornadoes.”
“A tornado does not exist without a rotating convective cell simultaneously,” she clarified.
The meteorologist also mentioned she lacked sufficient information about other situations but stated it is “likely” they were tornadoes.
“In the atmospheric environment today, it is normal for tornadoes to occur. There is a record of tornadoes in such situations, and often, not just one, but several happen. […] We have records since the 19th century, and some [situations] were very serious, like today’s,” she noted.
Paula Leitão further indicated that the frontal surface had crossed the entire continental territory and “will cross the eastern part of Algarve” this afternoon, so “conditions still exist for such a situation” in that area.
“During the rest of today and tomorrow, along the entire western coast, there are still conditions for sometimes strong showers, with wind gusts that locally can be strong; possibly tornadoes, but in a situation where they occur with much less probability,” she added.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, expressed regret today over the fatality in Albufeira resulting from the passage of the depression Cláudia, showing solidarity with the families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
Lusa | 13:13 – 15/11/2025
Notably, an 85-year-old woman of British nationality died this morning following the passage of an extreme wind phenomenon. In addition to the fatality, the district commander of emergency operations in Faro reported that five people at the campsite were injured, two of them seriously.
At a hotel unit, there were 23 minor injuries, four of whom were transported to Faro Hospital.
Of the total 28 victims, six children aged between two months and seven years were considered minor injuries. The rest were 23 adults, aged between 24 and 70 years, according to Carlos Raposa from the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM).
The alert for the occurrence was given at 10:07 a.m., as confirmed by Notícias ao Minuto with the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command.
A total of 62 operatives were mobilized, including elements from the firefighters, the National Republican Guard (GNR), INEM, and Civil Protection, accompanied by 25 vehicles.
The Prime Minister left a message on X highlighting the “full commitment” of Civil Protection and expressed “sincere condolences to the family of the fatality” this Saturday in Albufeira.
Notícias ao Minuto | 14:57 – 15/11/2025
