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Portugal braces for Storm Charles; to shut schools, ready rescue teams
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- Portugal's government has ordered the closure of schools and non-essential public services on Wednesday and advised people to stay indoors due to Storm Charles, which is expected to bring heavy rain and wind gusts up to 150 kph (93 mph).
- Interior Minister Luis Neves warned of potentially severe conditions requiring rescue efforts and placed emergency services and army units on high alert.
- Since Sunday, Storm Bruna has already caused heavy rains and flooding in Portugal and Spain, with recent storms earlier this year causing extensive damage and economic losses in the Iberian Peninsula.
- In Spain, around 3,000 people are being evacuated from Piedralaves due to the risk of dam overflow, though no injuries or service disruptions have been reported.
- Spain’s weather service AEMET has issued warnings of heavy rainfall exceeding 120 mm in 12 hours in parts of Cáceres and Ávila, as well as hurricane-strength winds over 130 kph expected on La Palma island.
