Portugal Reels From Storm Kristin's €5.3 Billion Devastation and 19 Deaths
Leiria, Coimbra, Santarém, and Lisbon were the hardest-hit districts, with 19 fatalities and damages exceeding €5.3 billion. Storm Kristin, in particular, devastated homes and critical infrastructure, including water, power, and communications networks.
Portugal's new president, elected on February 8 amid the storms, made his first official visit to survey the destruction.
Nearly three months later, the government has rolled out emergency measures totaling €3.5 billion—direct aid, payment moratoriums, and credit lines—to support families and businesses in the worst-affected municipalities.
Nearly 65,000 Applications for Relief Submitted
As of last Tuesday, authorities had received around 65,000 applications across all active support programs, spanning agriculture, Social Security, the Tax Authority (AT), and the Employment and Vocational Training Institute (IEFP), including nearly 36,000 requests for housing reconstruction.
According to the Recovery Task Force overseeing reconstruction in the central region, nearly €2 billion has already reached individuals, businesses, and public entities. Yet entrepreneurs, farmers, local governments, and residents continue to raise concerns over delayed payments and cumbersome bureaucracy.
Government to Unveil Final PTRR Plan
To bolster economic recovery from the storm damage, the government will present the final version of the Portugal Transformation, Recovery, and Resilience Program (PTRR) next Tuesday, outlining measures to be implemented through 2035.
With 20,000 customers still without fixed-line communications—primarily in rural areas outside Leiria's urban centers, per the Task Force—full restoration of landline services is expected by early summer.
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