The Socialist Party (PS) today proposed that the Algarve municipalities of Monchique and Alcoutim be included in the support scheme for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by Storm Kristin.
Socialist MPs elected to Portugal’s parliament for the Faro constituency argue that both Alcoutim and Monchique also suffered substantial damage during the passage of the weather event, and should therefore be covered by the support measures being prepared for affected municipalities.
To that end, the PS parliamentary group has submitted a proposal calling for “the inclusion of the Algarve municipalities of Alcoutim and Monchique in the draft law establishing an exceptional and temporary regime for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure in municipalities hit by the storm”, which struck mainland Portugal from 28th January.
Luís Graça, a PS MP elected by the Faro constituency and deputy leader of the Socialist parliamentary group, criticised the absence of Algarve municipalities from the scheme intended to support the rebuilding and repair of heritage and infrastructure in the affected areas.
The exclusion of Alcoutim and Monchique “amounts to an injustice and a mistake”, he said, noting that beyond granting access to “direct state support” for reconstruction, the exceptional scheme also has implications “for insurance coverage”.
In an effort to correct that “error”, the Socialist group is urging the inclusion of the two Algarve councils when parliament debates and votes on Wednesday on government bill 59 and the PS amendment extending the territorial scope to cover those municipalities.
Alcoutim and Monchique were among the Algarve areas hardest hit by Storm Kristin, which struck mainland Portugal on 28th January and was followed by Storms Leonardo and Marta in the first weeks of February.
For several days, Alcoutim, in the eastern Algarve, was flooded due to the swelling waters of the Guadiana River, causing damage along the riverfront in the municipal seat and in the villages of Guerreiros do Rio and Laranjeiras.
The town’s river beach was completely submerged, damaging equipment, changing rooms, infirmaries and toilets; mooring pontoons were destroyed and kiosks, fishing facilities and bars in Laranjeiras and Guerreiros do Rio were also hit by rising waters.
Meanwhile, the mountainous municipality of Monchique in the western Algarve saw dozens of national, municipal and local roads damaged by landslides and the collapse of structures and trees.
During the severe weather, dozens of incidents led to closures or restrictions on the EN266, an essential road which links Monchique to Portimão and to the municipality of Odemira (Beja district), as well as on several local roads.
Sixteen people died in Portugal as a result of the three storms, which also left hundreds injured and displaced, and hundreds of thousands without electricity.
The destruction or damage of homes, businesses and facilities, fallen trees and structures, road closures, suspended schools and transport services, power, water and communications outages, and widespread flooding were among the main material consequences of the storms.
The Centre, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, and Alentejo regions were the hardest hit.
Source: PS
