Portugal Braces for More Rain, 200,000 Still Without Power

Portugal is on alert for more heavy rainfall. The Portuguese meteorological service, IPMA, has placed the entire country on alert until Monday.

Approximately 200,000 people remain without power, several days after Storm Cristine passed through, claiming the lives of five people. Two men died in accidents while repairing roofs damaged by the strong winds.

A 73-year-old man fell while repairing tiles in the city of Batalha, near Leiria, while another man suffered the same fate in Alcobaça. Storm Cristine caused widespread damage to public infrastructure and many homes, uprooting approximately 5,800 trees.

Emergency services have carried out 34 land rescue operations and 17 sea rescues. Portugal's civil protection is warning of flash floods, landslides, and rockfalls.

According to the electricity distribution network operator E-redes, approximately 98,000 customers are still without power, mainly in the central part of the country. Generators are being used to power hospitals, the water supply network, and telecommunications.