LISBON, — Flooding worsened across parts of Portugal on Wednesday as Storm Leonardo pushed rivers over their banks, forcing evacuations and prompting warnings that conditions could deteriorate again this weekend.
In Alcácer do Sal, about 90 km south of Lisbon, authorities evacuated around 200 people after the Sado River overflowed and submerged the town’s main avenue in waist-deep water. Shops were shielded with sandbags, but floodwater still spread through central streets.
Portugal’s Civil Protection authority confirmed that a man in his 60s died near Serpa after his vehicle was swept away by fast-moving floodwater, underscoring the danger of driving through inundated roads.
Emergency services said they have handled more than 3,300 incidents since Sunday, including urban flooding, fallen trees and landslides. The government kept the alert at its highest level in high-risk zones, while military support remained on standby. Reports from Portuguese and international outlets said up to 3,000 personnel and 42 boats were available for rescue and response operations in vulnerable areas.
Forecasters warned that saturated soils and swollen rivers leave little buffer for additional rain. Another Atlantic system is expected to affect the Iberian Peninsula over the weekend, raising the risk of renewed flooding and transport disruption in already hit districts.
Storm Leonardo is the latest in a run of severe weather systems to hit Portugal and Spain this winter. Officials have repeatedly urged residents in flood-prone communities to move early, avoid travel unless essential, and follow evacuation instructions immediately if issued.
