Written by Lisa Murimi
Storm Claudia has battered parts of Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, leaving at least three people dead, dozens injured, and widespread flooding across Wales and England.
Authorities in Portugal said on Saturday that the storm’s violent winds and heavy rainfall triggered deadly incidents, including a tornado in the southern Algarve region.
In Portugal, emergency workers discovered the bodies of an elderly couple in Fernao Ferro earlier in the week.
The pair is believed to have been asleep when floodwaters surged into their home overnight, leaving them unable to escape.
The storm’s impact worsened on Saturday when a tornado struck the coastal city of Albufeira. Footage shared online showed caravans being hurled and destroyed at a camping site. Regional civil protection commander Vitor Vaz Pinto confirmed that an 85-year-old British woman was killed in the incident.
At a nearby hotel, 28 people were injured, two of them severely. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the victims and wished a quick recovery to those hurt.
Portugal’s weather authority, IPMA, placed the Algarve, Beja, and Setubal districts under an amber alert, the second-highest warning level, signalling continued high winds, torrential rain, and potential flash floods.
Across the border, Spain also experienced days of intense weather as Storm Claudia moved north. By Saturday, the system reached parts of Britain and Ireland, unleashing heavy downpours and causing several rivers to burst their banks.
In Wales, the town of Monmouth was among the hardest hit. Aerial footage showed the town centre and surrounding residential areas submerged after the nearby river overflowed.
The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said teams were conducting evacuations, rescues, and welfare checks as flooding continued to impact homes, businesses, transport networks, and energy installations. The Welsh government confirmed that severe infrastructure disruptions were ongoing.
Natural Resources Wales issued 11 flood warnings, including four severe alerts signalling danger to life, along with 17 flood alerts.
In England, the Environment Agency reported 49 active flood warnings and 134 alerts, with several rivers nearing or exceeding flood levels. Rescue services across southern and western regions remained on high alert as more rainfall was forecast.
