The municipality of Monchique has recorded around 150 incidents in the past week, as torrential rainfall triggered landslides, mudslides and fallen trees. These weather-related events triggered the closure or restriction of several roads in the mountainous Algarvian municipality, including the EN266, the main route linking the town to Portimão.
Speaking on Thursday, 12th February, the mayor, Paulo Alves, revealed that the Municipal Civil Protection Service had logged “approximately 150 incidents of various kinds” since 4th February, the vast majority involving “mass movements of earth, landslides, fallen trees, and similar occurrences”.
The EN266 remains partially restricted in several stretches, particularly between Caldas de Monchique and the entrance to the town, where traffic is operating alternately under temporary traffic lights. A separate section of the same road, between the municipalities of Monchique and Odemira, in the area between Monchique and Sabóia, has been completely closed.
Another key route, linking Monchique to Alferce on the southern side of Picota, also remains shut with no estimate for reopening. The Perna da Negra road is closed along one stretch, while several municipal roads are entirely impassable, including the Estrada Velha, which connects Monchique to Nave.
“At the moment, I believe there are five or six municipal roads and lanes completely closed, and the national road has several restrictions,” Mr Alves said, describing parts of the local road network as being in a “fairly serious” condition.
The mayor warned that the situation cannot be resolved immediately. He defends that full technical assessment must first be carried out to identify the extent of the damage before repair works can begin, work that will only be possible once weather conditions improve.
Although no injuries have been reported, the adverse weather has placed significant strain on local emergency services. Municipal teams, the Municipal Civil Protection Service, and the Monchique Volunteer Fire Brigade have been working “tirelessly”, alongside forestry workers, telecommunications companies, and road network operators, to ensure that no residents are left isolated.
“There have been isolated cases where some homes were temporarily cut off, but we have managed to respond,” Mr Alves said, noting that these situations occurred mainly in the northern part of the municipality, particularly in Perna da Negra, Foz do Carvalhoso and the border area with Odemira, in the Beja district.
The severe weather has also affected the local tourism sector. Hotels in the Monchique Spa Village have cancelled existing bookings due to operational difficulties arising from the storm damage, and difficulties with staff reaching their workplace.
According to data from the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Monchique was the wettest municipality in the country on 4th February, recording 92.8 litres of rain per square metre.
Between 26th January and 4th February, a total of 290 litres per square metre fell in Monchique, more than 400 per cent above the seasonal average for this time of year, the mayor added.
Nationally, the passage of Storms Kristin, Leonardo and Marta has left 16 people dead as so far, with hundreds injured or displaced, and caused significant damage to infrastructure and public services across the country.
Source: Barlavento
