MPs and Albufeira council’s mayor today expressed their intention to do everything possible to help those affected by the November 1st floods, including pay-outs.
A group of MPs from the Environment Committee visited Albufeira today, leading its chairman Pedro Soares to comment, "The emergency fund to help resolve these situations is underway."
Soares added that it is "important that business owners are able to re-start before the New Year."
It would have been more important for businesses to be able to re-open before Christmas but the administrators of the three funds that are able to make pay-outs to those affected seems slow and unresponsive.
The Mayor of Albufeira, Carlos Silva e Sousa, said he hoped that money for damages can be handed out quickly and indicated in a limp response that it will be possible to make the first payment in "one, two or three weeks."
The Algarve region was hit by a storm on November 1st and the heavy rain caused flooding in several municipalities, notably in Loulé, Albufeira, Portimão, Olhão and Silves.
The worst hit was Albufeira where flood waters swept through the downtown area, ruining shops, damaging cars and sweeping away road surfaces, cobble stones and street furniture. The damage to shops, houses and property is estimated at over 20 million euros.
Carlos Silva e Sousa said that the civil engineering work to public areas will be completed in time for the Christmas holiday period.
To see the flood at its peak, see:
https://www.facebook.com/skynews/videos/1200494519965143/?theater
Comments
To the local special VIP's this event is already seen as a chance to weed out the losers.