On Wednesday, during a municipal executive meeting, the mayor estimated that the damages caused by the severe weather exceed 1.3 million euros, affecting infrastructure, artworks, and landslides.
Contacted today, Pedro Rosa stated that the estimate remains, according to “the preliminary findings” conducted by the municipality.
However, he added, the damages “are still being calculated.”
At the Wednesday meeting, the president of the Sardoal Council described the impact of the adverse weather on the municipality as “very significant,” affecting people, municipal infrastructure, and local services.
“Sardoal was hit with precipitation at the rate of 60 millimeters per hour, far above the usual. The intervention by all civil protection agents, firefighters, parish councils, GNR, and municipal services was immediate,” he said, emphasizing the need to quickly assess the damages “to activate possible government support.”
Among the most critical cases is the National Road (EN) 358-3, between São Domingos and Andreus, which has been closed to traffic due to a slope collapse.
“The road will only be reopened after a technical evaluation, possibly in one direction and with vehicle restrictions,” explained Pedro Rosa, elected by the PSD and now beginning his first term as the president of Sardoal Council.
The mayor also highlighted that Sardoal has been “one of the areas most affected” by extreme weather phenomena in recent years, with impacts “increasingly significant and costly for the municipality.”
According to Civil Protection data, the municipality recorded 19 incidents during the passage of depression Cláudia last week, including ten surface floods, several road cleanings, and land movements or structure collapses.
Several roads remain closed, such as Rua do Salgueiral, Caminho Municipal 1241, and EN 358-3.
Pedro Rosa also pointed out damage to urban equipment, especially in the Lapa leisure area, where soil was carried away.
Regarding damage to private properties, the mayor admitted that “there are cases with significant losses, such as flooded garages and damaged vehicles.”
Pedro Rosa praised the work of municipal services and parish councils, always in conjunction with the municipal firefighters, commending the local organizational model, which he considers “ensures the most effectiveness on the ground.”
The adverse weather caused by the passage of depression Cláudia over continental Portugal resulted in 4,017 incidents since last Wednesday, with over half being floods, predominantly affecting the regions of Setúbal, Porto, and Algarve, according to a report on Sunday by the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC).
