Portugal shut down by giant storm: thousands of schools closed, hundreds of flights canceled

Portugal declared a state of emergency due to Storm Charles: about 8,000 schools were closed, more than 200 flights were canceled, and citizens were asked to stay home. The storm turned out to be weaker than forecast, but caused flooding and wind damage. Spain is also preparing for the storm, with thousands of people evacuated from their homes.

Portugal declared a state of emergency on Wednesday due to Storm Charles, which brought heavy rain and strong winds. About 8,000 schools were closed across the country, more than 200 flights were canceled, hundreds of businesses shut down, and citizens were asked to stay home. According to the Associated Press, this is the first time in public memory that Portugal has closed all schools nationwide due to a storm forecast. Authorities warned of winds that could reach 140 km/h, flash floods, and high waves along the coasts. The unusual preparedness was felt in the capital Lisbon, whose streets remained nearly empty. Buses drove without passengers, some streets were flooded, and a major supermarket chain closed its branches. An international technology conference with about 70,000 participants also had to cancel its events for the day. According to Reuters, emergency services reported 538 incidents since midnight, including flooding and wind damage. However, the storm has so far proven weaker than initial forecasts. The Portuguese meteorological service explained that the storm's eye split in two over the Atlantic Ocean, weakening its intensity. Before reaching the mainland, the storm hit the island of Madeira on Tuesday with winds of up to 130 km/h. According to authorities, no fatalities were reported. The extraordinary measures come amid severe public criticism of the government's handling of storms that hit the country earlier this year. Meanwhile, the storm is expected to also affect neighboring Spain, where more than 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes in the town of Piedralaves in central Spain due to concerns about water overflow from a nearby dam.