Audit Suggests Double Storm Deaths in Portugal, Residents Face Aid Delays

The Portugal Civil Protection Authority is facing new scrutiny after the non-profit group Humanitarian Action Watch claimed the death toll from last week’s Atlantic storm may be twice the official figure, a gap that could delay insurance payouts and emergency subsidies.

Why This Matters

• Bigger compensation pool – If the death count is revised upward, insurers must set aside more funds, potentially slowing claim approvals.

• Relief budget squeeze – Municipalities could need extra cash to pay for funerals and temporary housing.

• Policy review ahead – Parliament is already examining ANEPC’s disaster-reporting rules, which could change how future storms are classified.

What We Know So Far

Eyewitness tallies gathered by Humanitarian Action Watch, a Lisbon-based NGO that audits disaster responses, point to “at least 34” fatalities in central and northern districts. The official ledger from the Portugal Civil Protection Authority still lists 17 confirmed deaths as of Friday. According to the NGO, the undercount stems from:

Isolated rural hamlets that remained unreachable for 48 hours.

Missing-person files still classified as “pending” instead of “deceased”.

Hospital deaths registered by individual health trusts but not yet merged into the national database.

Where the Numbers Differ

| District | Official deaths | NGO estimate ||----------|----------------|--------------|| Aveiro | 3 | 7 || Viseu | 4 | 8 || Coimbra | 5 | 9 || Others combined | 5 | 10 |The NGO’s audit relies on parish-level registry offices and social-security death notifications, sources the state typically validates weeks later.

Reaction from Authorities

The Portugal Interior Ministry said in a written statement that it will “cross-check all registries” but insisted ANEPC’s figures are “based on currently validated information.” A ministry aide added that Portugal’s disaster classification law (Decree-Law 45/2019) obliges officials to publish provisional data within 12 hours, even if later revisions are likely. Opposition lawmakers from Bloco de Esquerda and PSD have separately requested a parliamentary hearing for both ANEPC and the NGO.

What This Means for Residents

• Insurance delays: Home-owners in the affected districts should expect longer processing times while insurers wait for a unified fatality report. Keep photos of damage and all receipts.• State aid timeline: The Social Security Institute can release funeral grants (€2,221) only after a death certificate is logged. Families missing documents are urged to file a provisional claim within 90 days.• Property revaluation: Storm classifications influence the IMI tax rebate offered to owners rebuilding in disaster zones. A higher casualty count could extend the rebate window to 3 years.

How to Help and Stay Informed

– Consult the Proteção Civil app (iOS/Android) for road closures and cleanup schedules.– Donate through verified channels: Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome has opened IBAN PT50 0010 0000 2005 6789 0005 9 specifically for storm relief.– Report unlisted casualties or missing persons via the Safe & Well Registry hotline 808 200 203; operators speak Portuguese and English.

The Bigger Picture

Portugal has endured 5 major winter storms in as many years, prompting calls for a national “build-back-better” fund similar to Spain’s Protección 79 scheme. A parliamentary white paper due in March will explore tying storm-related VAT exemptions to stricter flood-resistant building codes. If the current figures are adjusted upward, analysts expect the measure to gain fresh momentum.

Residents with unanswered insurance questions can email the author at newsroom@localinsider.pt. This story will be updated once ANEPC releases its next bulletin.