FLASH
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At least five people have died as Storm Christine swept through central and northern Portugal, causing flooding, landslides and extensive damage.
The storm, which the government described as an "extreme event," closed schools, damaged buildings and severely disrupted travel. In the coastal city of Figueira da Foz, a Ferris wheel fell and several vehicles were hit when part of a roof was torn off a building.
Portugal has been hit by a series of storms in recent days, including one over the weekend in which a man died after his car was swept away by floods.
According to civil protection authorities, torrential rains and winds of up to 150 km/h caused more than 3,000 weather events across the country. Several people were hit by falling trees or debris.
The strongest winds were recorded at the Monte Real air base in Leiria, where winds of 178 kilometers per hour were recorded before monitoring equipment was damaged. Officials said the site was likely to be the storm's entry point into mainland Portugal.
More than 850,000 people were left without power on Wednesday, according to electricity distributor E-Redes. The civil protection agency (ANEPC) said three people had died in the central region of Leiria, one of the worst-hit areas.
In Leiria, one person was hit by sheet metal and another was trapped during the construction of a house, according to officials. Local media reported that a man in Vila Franca de Cira died when a tree hit his car, local media reported. There were also reports of one death in the Marina Grande area.
Transport across Portugal has had serious problems, with roads, including the main highway connecting Lisbon to the north, and railways blocked by debris.
Ten coastal areas were put on red weather alert on Wednesday due to dangerous sea conditions, with waves expected to reach 14 meters, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
Efeitos da tempestade Kristin, em Portugal, na zona oeste do país, principamente na regiona de Leiria.
— João Porfírio (@porfiriojoao1) January 28, 2026
Photography: João Porfírio / @observadorpt pic.twitter.com/keWXib8n1M
The Public Security Police (PSP) urged residents of Coimbra and Leiria to stay at home, while Portugal's Civil Protection Minister said the country remains on high alert. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He said authorities were assessing the damage and would take "every necessary measure".
Meanwhile, the mayor of Leiria, Gonçalo López, called on the government to declare a state of emergency. "We have public spaces that have been destroyed," he told reporters.
After passing Portugal, Storm Christine moved east towards Spain, bringing with it snow, rain and strong winds.
The storm caused widespread damage across the country, with schools, roads and rail lines closed and hundreds of thousands of people left without power. In Andalusia, emergency services reported around 2,000 weather-related incidents.
Spain's national meteorological agency, AEMET, warned of very strong winds in some areas, with gusts expected to reach hurricane force. A red alert has been issued for areas of Almeria in the southeast due to strong winds.
At least three people were killed, and more than 800,000 residents across central and northern #Portugal were left without electricity as #StormKristin caused widespread destruction. The storm toppled trees, damaged homes, and severely disrupted road and rail traffic before... pic.twitter.com/IGD96iYGC7
— The News Now (@NewsNowJK) January 29, 2026
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