Portugal Declares Emergency in Coimbra Amid Severe Flooding and Dyke Rupture

Portuguese authorities in the historic city of Coimbra and surrounding central regions have declared an emergency due to severe flooding after weeks of heavy rain. A containment dyke ruptured in Casais, on the outskirts of Coimbra, prompting the preventive evacuation of thousands of residents near the Mondego River.

Civil Protection plans to evacuate around 9,000 more people, adding to the nearly 3,600 already displaced this week from Coimbra, Montemor-o-Velho, and Soure. The river's flow has surged to exceptional levels, overwhelming fluvial infrastructure and triggering extensive monitoring and prevention efforts to counter the risk of sustained rises.

Officials warn of a potential "once-in-a-century flood" that could impact up to 9,000 residents and reach the city centre. The crisis has also damaged key infrastructure: a section of the A1 motorway, the main link between Lisbon and Porto, is closed following the dyke breach, with repairs potentially taking weeks.

This flooding forms part of a broader wave of extreme weather battering Portugal since late January, which has already claimed at least 15 lives and displaced thousands nationwide. Authorities urge residents to follow official guidance and avoid unnecessary travel as they continue to track the river's levels.