Headlines
Portugal counts multi‑billion‑euro damage after Storm Kristin tears off roofs
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 2, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 2, 2026
Quick Summary
Storm Kristin left Portugal with billions in damage, affecting homes and power supply. The government offers aid, and reconstruction may involve EU funds.
Portugal Faces Billions in Damages After Storm Kristin Devastates Region
Impact of Storm Kristin on Portugal
By Sergio Goncalves and Miguel Pereira
Extent of Damage
LISBON/LEIRIA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Last week's Storm Kristin left hundreds of homes in central Portugal without roofs, tens of thousands without power and residents lining up for emergency building materials, as authorities warned damage could run into billions of euros.
Government Response
The storm swept across the region early on Wednesday, with wind gusts topping 200 kph (124 mph) and heavy rain uprooting trees and ripping off roofs. It killed at least six people and cut power to hundreds of thousands of households.
Financial Aid and Reconstruction Plans
"The roof blew off, all the windowpanes are broken, everything is chaos and misery," said Paula Franco as she queued in Leiria for donated tiles to repair her home.
State of Calamity Declaration
Portugal's government on Sunday approved a 2.5 billion-euro ($2.95 billion) package of loans and incentives to help people and businesses rebuild after the storm.
The government could apply for grants from the European Solidarity Fund and unused EU recovery funds to finance reconstruction, Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho said on Monday at a joint news conference with EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen.
Leiria, one of Portugal’s main industrial hubs known for its plastics and metalworking industries, was among the hardest-hit areas.
Hundreds of houses, several roads, schools, factories and railway lines have been affected. At the Monte Real air base near Leiria, the storm damaged several aircraft, including F16 fighter jets.
Nearly 170,000 households were still without electricity on Monday, Graca Carvalho said.
Damage in the region could total between 1.5 billion euros and 2 billion euros, Henrique Carvalho, president of the Leiria Business Association, told broadcaster NOW.
The government on Sunday extended a state of calamity in 69 municipalities until February 8, with more heavy rain and flooding expected.
(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves and Miguel Pereira; editing by Charlie Devereux and Ros Russell)
Key Takeaways
- •Storm Kristin caused extensive damage in Portugal.
- •Government offers 2.5 billion-euro aid package.
- •Leiria was one of the hardest-hit areas.
- •State of calamity extended in 69 municipalities.
- •Reconstruction may involve EU funds.
Frequently Asked Questions about Portugal counts multi‑billion‑euro damage after Storm Kristin tears off roofs
1What is disaster management?
Disaster management involves the planning and coordination of resources and services to mitigate the impact of disasters and ensure effective response and recovery.
