Mondego levee breach shuts A1 near Coimbra, floods farms

The Portugal Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) has ordered a full shutdown of the A1 motorway around Coimbra after a Mondego River levee ruptured near Casais, pushing thousands of residents onto detours and flooding large swaths of farmland.

Why This Matters

• A1 closed for weeks: Detours via IC2 add 20–40 minutes for north–south trips.

• 3 000 people evacuated: Temporary shelters open in Coimbra, Soure and Montemor-o-Velho.

• Farm losses top €1 B: Key winter crops in the Baixo Mondego are under water.

• Repairs start after 15 February: Expect at least “several weeks” before normal traffic resumes.

The Incident: A Breach at Dusk

At about 17:45 on 11 February, the right-bank levee lining the Mondego gave way where it meets the A1 viaduct in São João do Campo. The breach rapidly widened, sending water into low-lying fields. Although the initial flow spared nearby villages, engineers feared that the saturated earth under the viaduct could destabilise the motorway itself—a risk confirmed a few hours later when a section of the southbound carriageway slumped.

Emergency Measures Now in Place

More than 500 firefighters, GNR officers, fuzileiros and army engineers are rotating through 24-hour shifts. Helicopters have already lifted four stranded farm workers to safety. Mobile pumps and rock armour are being dropped in to create a temporary plug until river levels fall. ANEPC’s Mário Silvestre insists the situation is "dynamic," warning that fresh breaches remain possible anywhere between Coimbra and Figueira da Foz.

Infrastructure Fallout

The A1 is blocked in both directions between Coimbra Norte (km 198) and Coimbra Sul (km 186). Brisa’s traffic sensors show volumes on the IC2 up 65 % since Thursday night. Regional rail is unaffected, but fertiliser and feed shipments that normally move by lorry are already delayed, according to shippers' group ANTRAM. The Infrastructure Ministry says rebuilding the motorway deck will take “several weeks”, depending on weather.

Blow to Farmers—and to Your Grocery Bill

Agricultural unions calculate that the combined storms Kristin, Leonardo and Marta plus the levee failure have caused €1 B in crop and equipment damage. Wheat, oats and rye planted for May harvest are now considered total losses across much of the Baixo Mondego. The Mondego irrigation canal, serving 10 000 ha, is silted up and at risk of structural damage itself. The Agriculture Ministry has set aside €40 M in PEPAC emergency funds—money the Confederação dos Agricultores de Portugal calls "a fraction of what is needed." Shoppers should brace for higher bread and poultry prices by early spring if grain imports must fill the gap.

Why the Levee Failed: Engineers Weigh In

Hydraulic experts blame a mix of poor maintenance, aged earthworks and heavier rainfall linked to climate change. The rupture occurred where the earthen levee meets the rigid A1 abutment, a known weak point flagged in multiple LNEC reports since 2001. Vegetation growth, burrowing fauna and unchecked seepage gradually undermined the structure. Specialists such as Carlos Matias Ramos say the Mondego’s designed safety flow of 2 000 m³/s has been surpassed in four of the last six winters, yet no major reinforcement was carried out.

The Repair Roadmap—and the Price Tag

The Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA) is leading a two-phase plan:

One-to-two-week “provisional closure” using rock fill and sheet piling once water levels stabilise.

A full rebuild of the rupture zone, plus heightening vulnerable stretches, later this year.

Cost estimates are still being finalised, but early Cabinet briefings cite a “double-digit million-euro” bill, on top of the broader €2.5 B calamity package already approved for 68 flood-hit municipalities.

What This Means for Residents

• Commuters: Expect detours and packed IC2 lanes until at least mid-March. Check Brisa’s app before heading north or south.• Homeowners on floodplains: Keep valuables above ground level and sign up for ANEPC text alerts—authorities admit the risk of further breaches is not zero.• Farm businesses: Document losses early; PEPAC help lines (212 427 200) open from 08:00–20:00 daily.• Shoppers: Monitor bread, egg and poultry prices; bulk purchases now may offset later spikes.

Looking Ahead

Meteorologists forecast another Atlantic front by late week, but with less intense rainfall. Even so, ANEPC stresses that levee surveillance will remain at Level Red across the Mondego basin until ground saturation subsides. The Government has hinted at a long-term plan—potentially including a new upstream dam—to keep Portugal’s third-largest river in check. For now, patience on the road and vigilance along the riverbanks are the watchwords.