Storms Leave 35,000 Without Power in Central Portugal; Relief Funds Open

The Portugal grid operator E-Redes is still working to restore power to roughly 35,000 electrical delivery points, leaving swathes of the Centre and Ribatejo regions waking up in the dark today.

Why This Matters

• Longest outage since 2021 – critical appliances, heating and remote-work connectivity disrupted for a fourth straight day.

• Leiria hardest hit – 26,000 meters down, meaning many rural villages have no street lighting or water pumps.

• Emergency loans – Government has opened a €2.5 B credit line for storm damage; claims begin this week at local câmaras.

• Calamity status extended – 68 concelhos stay under special rules until 15 February, easing paperwork for repairs.

Where the Lights Are Still Out

Although crews re-energised parts of Lisbon overnight, Leiria, Santarém, Castelo Branco and Coimbra remain the main blackout zones. In Leiria alone, severed medium-voltage feeders mean whole farming communities have resorted to generators that cost €30-40 in diesel per day. Urban customers are also affected: shopping centres in Pombal postponed opening hours and several public schools cancelled in-person classes.

Why the Repairs Are Taking Time

E-Redes engineers say the combined impact of storms Kristin, Leonardo and Marta felled more than 3,200 utility poles and washed away access tracks, forcing teams to hike equipment in on foot. High winds continue to prevent the use of drones and bucket trucks on ridgelines. The operator expects the “vast majority” of customers to be restored before the weekend, provided the forecasted lull on Thursday holds.

Government Response and Aid

The Portugal Cabinet has kept the nation on "State of Calamity" for 68 municipalities. Under this classification:

• Temporary housing can be requisitioned without court approval.

• VAT on building materials for repairs will drop from 23 % to 6 % for invoices issued before June.

• Micro-businesses that lost inventory may apply for interest-free loans up to €200,000, overseen by IAPMEI.

Civil Protection reports 15 fatalities and several hundred injuries since 28 January, mostly linked to falling trees and flash floods. Insurance companies have set up fast-track counters in district capitals; keep photographs of damage and the police report to streamline claims.

What This Means for Residents

Check supply status – E-Redes posts circuit-level updates every 30 minutes on the "Occurências" map; if your meter still shows no service after the map turns green, call 800 506 506.

Document spoilage – take timestamped photos of perished food; certain home policies reimburse up to €250 for fridge contents after 12 hours of outage.

Apply early for aid – town halls are already processing applications and will prioritise complete files; bring fiscal number, IBAN and repair quotes.

Plan for more storms – IPMA forecasts another Atlantic front late Sunday; clear gutters and secure loose tiles now while daylight and weather permit.

Looking Ahead

Meteorologists expect calmer skies from Wednesday night into Friday, offering a narrow repair window. However, sea-surface temperatures remain higher than normal, raising the probability of another depression before the end of the month. Energy experts urge residents to keep power-bank batteries and torches charged and to revisit household emergency kits.

Residents needing shelter or medication support can contact the National Civil Protection Authority hotline (800 246 246). For real-time municipal alerts, subscribe to the free "Alerta PT" smartphone app.