Albufeira flood November 2015

To Ruth B82

There will be an official disaster fund. Details will no doubt be here when they are announced. There is nothing on the council website at this moment.

I've made this map to show the extent of the affected areas. Red is no-go, yellow some damage but passable. Feel free to copy and pass on. The red lines mark almost exactly the course of the river, which until the early years of the 20th century flowed above ground. For a few hours it regained its natural course.

A massive clean up operation is under way. Hordes of council workmen are hard at it. Owners and staff likewise, although their principal and sad task is dumping ruined furniture and stock into piles for collection. Everything looks pretty well organised, so much so you would feel you are getting in the way if offering to help.

The débris is going to take days to remove. There are bars and restaurants open for business on the slightly higher ground eg Rua 5 de Outubro (the road to the tunnel) and in Rua do MFA.

Various engineers and functionaries were pondering over how the hell they are going to fix the destroyed road.

I've have updated the picture album with some from earlier today - those after the map.

Here's the page reference again - http://1drv.ms/1GXC499

I just want to say seeing all the images really is sad. I go to Albufeira many times a year on business and its such a beautiful place. My heart goes out to all residents and business owners. Where possible no tourist should stop going as now more than ever the economy and support is needed!

cubsur wrote: Hordes of council workmen are hard at it.

I was on the Pau do Bandeiras at 1.30pm and tourists were sitting in restaurants around the raised Fisherman`s beach area (Herculano) possibly coming in via St Anne`s gate and the Bateria. They were also climbing up the closed escalators, but GNR were preventing any vehicles or tourists going down, or by road. Unfortunately, this only created a tailback of honking cars, lorries and buses up towards the Rua Telecom ..

In my opinion, this part of town should be completely closed off to all but those who live and work in the area ... and the bus route (down) should go via Rua Oceano ... but chaos seems to rule their every decision.

Interestingly, the great gauge in Fisherman`s beach has exposed the old tiled `quay` ... recently under 4 feet of sand.

I agree we should give our support to any establishments open at this time.We certainly will when over at the New Year.Total respect go to the Council workers who IMO work hard and do a good job and are in the lowest of wage brackets around.