Portuguese Military Deploys Thousands for Extensive Flood Recovery Efforts

Extensive Military Deployment Mobilized for Flood Relief

The Portuguese Armed Forces have initiated a large-scale deployment, mobilizing nearly 2,700 personnel to assist 40 municipalities severely impacted by a series of intense storms in February 2026. This extensive operation, officially named 'Operation Ajuda Rápida' (Rapid Aid), aims to mitigate the damage from what have been described as the worst February floods in a decade. The military's efforts are concentrated on essential recovery tasks, including debris removal, restoring emergency power, and reopening critical roadways.

Scope of Operations and Resources Utilized

The deployment, which saw troop numbers climb from an initial 1,200 to 2,687, involves uniformed engineers, medics, and logistics crews. Their multifaceted mission includes clearing an average of 25 km of secondary roads daily, wiring over 120 mobile generators to vital health centers and water-pumping stations, and establishing temporary shelters with 1,860 beds across 15 barracks for displaced families. Additional support encompasses roofing repairs, the relocation of individuals and property by boat, and aerial surveillance. The Armed Forces have also distributed nearly 1,000 meals, repaired over 109 homes and public buildings, and supplied 60 Starlink and 53 satellite emergency communications units. Over 300 tonnes of material have been transported by road and air to affected areas.

A significant array of equipment has been deployed to support these efforts, including:

• 351 all-terrain vehicles capable of fording half-meter waters
• 25 heavy diggers and bulldozers for landslide clearance
• 55 flat-bottom boats, four semi-rigids, and two amphibious craft
• Six helicopters, one C-130 transport, a KC-390 tanker-cargo jet, and a P-3C maritime patrol plane for medical lifts and aerial mapping

Impact and Government Response

The severe weather, triggered by three Atlantic depressions that delivered a month's rainfall in just 72 hours, stretched Portugal's civil protection system thin. The floods have resulted in at least 11 fatalities and left as many as 1 million people without power. Hardest-hit districts include Leiria, Coimbra, and Santarém, which reported 9 fatalities and an estimated €310 million in insured losses. Major rivers such as the Douro, Tejo (Tagus), and Sado reached critical levels, with the Douro overflowing in Porto and Gaia. The Navy alone rescued 132 people isolated by the floods.

In response, the Portuguese government approved a €2.5 billion support package to accelerate reconstruction and aid efforts. The state of calamity, initially declared due to storms like Kristin and Leonardo, has been extended until February 15, allowing authorities to expedite spending and emergency responses. Measures include a €150 million rapid-disbursement fund for local councils, temporary VAT exemptions on generators and water pumps, and free replacement ID cards for citizens who lost documents.

Ongoing Efforts and Future Outlook

The military's presence is expected to continue until river levels recede and isolated populations are no longer in danger. Meteorologists from IPMA have warned of another Atlantic front expected between February 11-12, prompting the Army's water-barrier teams to prepare for potential deployment of an additional 1.5 km of modular flood walls within six hours if river gauges rise. The government is set to decide by February 14 whether to further extend the contingency status.