Risk of dyke collapse in Coimbra
The Portuguese authorities have issued a serious warning that a river dyke located in the Coimbra district—Coimbra being the fourth largest city in Portugal—is currently at a very high risk of collapsing. This dangerous situation is due to the enormous volume of water that the Mondego River, which flows through central Portugal, is carrying at the moment. It is important to note that a similar incident occurred 25 years ago, which resulted in devastating consequences as it left around 400 families without homes.
As a safety measure, authorities have already evacuated approximately 3,000 people from the areas that are considered to be at risk of being affected by a potential dyke failure. This precaution aims to prevent any loss of life and reduce harm to residents living nearby.
Both the President and the Prime Minister of Portugal are actively monitoring the situation on the ground, staying informed about developments and coordinating efforts to manage the crisis effectively.
According to the latest weather forecasts, the heaviest rainfall is expected to occur later today, which could further increase the pressure on the dyke and worsen the situation if the rain continues as predicted.
