The intense rain that fell during the early hours of the morning dragged land and debris from burned areas of Serra da Estrela and caused damage in the parish of Sameiro, Manteigas, according to civil protection and municipal sources.


According to a source from the District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) of Guarda, at 03:48, the alert was given for a mass movement (landslides) in the locality of Sameiro, municipality of Manteigas, district of Guarda.

The source told Lusa that, due to the very heavy rain that fell in the areas that were destroyed by the fire that hit Serra da Estrela in August, there was a movement of land and the debris “went to the river bed [Zêzere] and flooded.”



The mayor of Manteigas, Flávio Massano, shared photos of the destruction on his Facebook page. “We have been on the ground since 3:20 am, the time from which I activated the Municipal Emergency Plan (to be ratified later), so that various municipal, parish, firefighters, GNR and, mainly, civilians can be mobilized. At the moment we are carrying out joint works to clear channels, roads and housing under the guidance of Civil Protection”, he wrote.



According to the mayor of Manteigas, “the damage is enormous, several vehicles were dragged by the force of the water, there are houses and businesses that have been affected, roads, street lighting, water and sanitation infrastructure, sports and recreational equipment, among others”.

Flávio Massano indicated that, at the moment, he has no information about any injured or missing persons, and he is on the ground assessing the situation “at all times”.


All photos: Flávio Massano - Presidente da Câmara Municipal de Manteigas, Facebook