Deadly 2026 storms ravage Portugal with €6 billion in losses and 18 dead

A series of violent storms battered central Portugal in early 2026, causing widespread destruction and leaving at least 18 people dead. Leiria, Coimbra, Santarém, and Lisbon suffered the worst damage, with Leiria city alone reporting losses of 792 million euros. The government has since launched emergency measures and appointed a task force to oversee recovery efforts.

Storms Kristin, Leonardo, and Marta struck in quick succession, flooding towns, destroying homes, and cutting off entire communities. The extreme weather forced evacuations in high-risk areas and left hundreds injured. While exact figures for Leiria's damaged households and businesses remain unclear, reports confirm severe flooding and infrastructure collapse across the region.

The government responded with a 3.5 billion euro emergency package and estimated total losses between five and six billion euros. Paulo Fernandes was named to lead the Central Region Reconstruction Task Force, coordinating recovery in the hardest-hit districts.

Energy providers Endesa and EDP approved all 4,270 requests for payment deferrals, ensuring no customers were billed for days without power. Fixed fees during outages were also refunded. Repayment plans now vary by individual circumstances, with extensions of up to six months available.

Despite the devastation, the number of assistance requests has stayed in line with the region's usual annual figures.

Recovery efforts are underway, with the government allocating billions to rebuild damaged areas. Energy providers have adjusted billing to ease financial strain on affected customers. The task force will continue assessing needs as the region works to restore essential services and infrastructure.