Strong winds and heavy rain cause damage across the Algarve, but dams are beginning to fill

Strong winds and heavy rain cause damage across the Algarve, but dams are beginning to fillAs depression Laurence passed over the Algarve yesterday, heavy rain and strong winds damaged the roof of the old Albufeira fish market, on Praia dos Pescadores, causing tiles to fly off, hitting some nearby terraces.

A source from the civil protection authorities said that there were no injuries reported, only material damage, and that this was the third extreme wind phenomenon recorded in the Algarve yesterday.

In Silves, three houses suffered damage to their rooves, causing one resident to move in with relatives. "There were incidents of trees and some structures falling, as well as mass movements onto the road and some flooding, but without any major incidents", said the civil protection.

There are two more depressions forecast this week.

On the plus side, the Algarve's dams have seen a significant increase in water volume, due to the rain that has been falling over the last few days in the region.

The latest weekly reservoir bulletin from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), for the period between the 10th and 17th of this month, shows an increase in storage levels in all reservoirs in the region, with emphasis on Funcho, in the municipality of Silves, which saw an increase of 14%.

This Monday, March 17th, the storage levels in the Algarve dams were as follows: Odeleite was at 94% of its capacity; Beliche at 89%; Funcho at 75%; Odelouca at 61%; Bravura at 43%; and Arade at 20%  - the volume of this reservoir has already increased, given that Funcho has started to discharge.

In the coming days, the amount of water stored in the region's dams will increase more, given that the rain is expected to continue a little longer.

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