Portugal (Monitoring Desk): Portugal has been struck by severe Storm Kristen, with strong winds and heavy rainfall causing widespread destruction across the country. Authorities report at least five fatalities and thousands of emergency incidents.
Gonçalo Lopes, Mayor of the Leiria district, stated that four people were killed in his district alone, including one person who died when a building structure collapsed. In Vila Franca de Xira, another individual lost their life when a tree fell on a moving vehicle due to strong winds.
According to Portugal’s National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, more than 3,300 incidents had been reported by midday, including fallen trees, debris on roads, and blockages on major highways, with several central routes completely closed.
The storm also severely affected the electricity system. Power grid operators reported that by midday approximately 570,000 people were without electricity, a number that rose to 1 million by nightfall, with central regions being the hardest hit.
