Storm Charles Crosses Portugal: More Than 300 Flights Cancelled, About 8,000 Schools Closed, Lisbon Web Summit Cancels a Day of Events
Atlantic storm Charles struck mainland Portugal on November 11. More than 300 flights in and out of Portugal were cancelled, while schools and non-essential public services shut across the country and hundreds of supermarkets closed. The national weather agency, IPMA, recorded wind gusts of more than 120 kilometres per hour in some areas. The storm had earlier hit the island of Madeira on Tuesday with winds of 130 kilometres per hour.
The government declared a nationwide state of alert through the end of November 11, with the highest red warnings in eight districts including Lisbon. About 8,000 schools cancelled classes, described as the first time in living memory that schools across Portugal had closed nationwide because of a storm forecast.
The Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon, attended by about 70,000 people, called off its events for the day on government advice, citing risks of tidal flooding, severe disruption to public transport and the impact of high winds on external structures. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro chaired a crisis unit with eight government ministers and other officials to monitor the storm.
Xinhua reported Montenegro's warning on November 10 not to underestimate the dangers of extreme weather events. Reports said the heavy rainfall and intense winds passed without causing severe damage, and the storm was forecast to move on into southwestern Spain.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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