The Portugal Flood Crisis has caused severe damage to the nation’s infrastructure due to extreme rainstorms that began earlier this month. The damage from the floods, which forced the evacuation of about 3000 people, is estimated to be about €4B.
Rainstorms persist as Portugal battles flood crisis
There is a top-tier weather alert in Portugal as the country is battling with destruction caused by floods from extreme rainstorms. The floods caused an estimated €4 billion in damage, with heavier downpours still expected.
Forced evacuation, power cuts, and transportation delays, which have become inevitable due to the floods, are expected to persist until next week. This means that schools, hospitals, and transportation services might be temporarily affected.
Moreover, the government unlocked about €2.5B in grants and soft loans to help manage the damages. The grant is to help with home repairs and also help small businesses affected by the floods.
Residents who want to apply for the grants must do so within 8 days of a storm damaging their property. About 68 communities are estimated to have suffered damage from the weather event plaguing Portugal.
The €2.5 billion unlocked by the state provides for immediate housing vouchers up to €30,000 per family for structural repairs. The grant also provides for zero-interest microcredit capped at €75,000, which small businesses like shops and cafes can access.
The government will also enact a 90-day VAT holiday on construction material purchased in the disaster zone. This will help reduce the financial burden of reconstruction efforts.
Also, the newly elected Portuguese President, António José Seguro, assured that the emergency aid will be well-managed and distributed to those who need it. The country’s interior minister, Maria Lúcia Amaral, resigned after critics attacked the government’s response.
Emergency aid needed to tackle destruction
Portugal has incurred severe structural losses due to the flooding caused by the rainstorms. The agricultural ministry estimates about €775 M in destroyed greenhouses, drowned orchards, and sodden pastures.
Similarly, transportation is also limited, with a major motorway in the country collapsing on Wednesday. Schools are also expected to be temporarily shut if conditions become worse.
Nevertheless, various humanitarian activities have begun to help address the destruction by the flood and prepare for predicted rainfall.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced via a post on X that its volunteers are on the ground where help is needed most.