Albufeira flood November 2015
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Topic: Albufeira flood November 2015
Posted By: cubsur
Subject: Albufeira flood November 2015
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 01:13
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Rather than use the weather topic, here is a place to put any photos and observations on the flood on November 1st. Here are some of mine to begin with, I will look through the remainder later. It was being said, once again , that if only the council had unblocked some of the ditches and drains some of this could have been prevented but, as usual, no-one will do anything until it is too late. This one was taken a couple of hours before the flood reached its worst.      This is the storm water outfall taking what it did across the beach.   13.28hrs  15.28hrs  This is a screen capture of a short video clip I took. I cannot upload the video here nor elsewhere. I don't do Facebook etc and my Youtube account won't let me log in.   ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Replies:
Posted By: Super Bock
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 07:10
| Devastating |
Posted By: Leni
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 08:09
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Hi Cubsur, this is really bad!!!! would you please tell me how it is in Pateo? thanks a lot |
Posted By: pyrman
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 08:18
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Huge co-incidence ... also on the nightly news .... 1st November was the day in 1755 when most of southern Portugal was devastated by earthquake, as well as a sunami that hit the west coast and Lisboa. A stark reminder that we are never far from nature`s worst ... ------------- Pyrman |
Posted By: administrator
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 08:47
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You can view several videos we have shared on our facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/albufeiracom" rel="nofollow - http://www.facebook.com/albufeiracom
A lot of cleaning, repairs and repavement ahead. Let's hope eveyone had a good insurance. Maybe now would be a good opportunity to rethink how to direct the flow of water through Albufeira Old Town since it always was a path to a small river. ------------- Albufeira.com Admin |
Posted By: camara1969
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 09:15
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the shops under the hotel California must had water up to there ceilings and the shop that sell's Portugal merchandise... mother nature taking no prisoners ------------- camera1969 |
Posted By: RogerD
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 09:32
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I am gutted to see all this happening only back home 3 weeks from our last trip out, i feel for all the business owners and homeowners in the old town, does anyone know if the strip or anywhere else was flooded even in part? I know they are higher up but just wondering. seen this video and it brings it home when you see the square under water :( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-yPY0FFOTE ------------- Heading out again on May 24th and Oct 5th in 2014!!! |
Posted By: RogerD
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 09:34
can admin make this link work? doesnt seen to highlight for me. ------------- Heading out again on May 24th and Oct 5th in 2014!!! |
RogerD wrote:Posted By: peteknopp
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 09:55
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http://https://youtube.com/watch?v=j-yPY0FFOTE" rel="nofollow - http://https://youtube.com/watch?v=j-yPY0FFOTE The only people who'll make money out of this is the insurance assessors - biggest bunch I've crooks I've ever encountered on the 3-4 claims we've made on house/ car. ie the surgeon 'knocked' of his bike who claimed 9k!! ------------- 
|
Posted By: peteknopp
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 10:07
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153779106493408&set=pcb.10153779106853408&type=3&theater" rel="nofollow - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153779106493408&set=pcb.10153779106853408&type=3&theater dont know if this page is public but shows the water has stopped flowing edit. it seems to work and there are more than one photo
-------------
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Posted By: ClaireKildare
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 10:10
| There are lower ground level shops in the Hotel California Centro Commercial, and a basement shop in Forca Portugal opposite. Picadilly have basement toilets. The whole street has been destroyed. It is totally amazing that nobody was harmed. It will take a long, long time to get back to anything near normal. |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 10:23
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I am just sorting out some pictures I took earlier this morning. Here's just a sample of what the force of the water did. This was the road into the old town from the Dois Mundos roundabout by the car park.   ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 10:31
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would you please tell me how it is in Pateo? Leni No problems up here other than a bit of mud on the road and a few blocked drains. Luckily for us the water rushes downhill. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: Avril
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 10:34
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Glad to hear you are ok Tom, the pictures on here and facebook and the you tube video's are shocking - just shocking :-(
------------- Consistently inconsistent, Esse sou eu! |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 10:35
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Here are my pictures from this morning as yet unsorted and uncaptioned. It will take weeks to clear this up up and especially to repair the road., There is no water or power down in the old town. http://1drv.ms/1GXC499" rel="nofollow - http://1drv.ms/1GXC499 ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 10:48
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Thanks for the photos, what devastation, so glad there were no fatalities, it looks so extreme, there could have been. The clear up operation will be immense. ------------- my beautiful portugal |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 12:05
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I couldn't get a picture, but those who know the tunnel at the
roundabout at the top of the destroyed road will remember it has steel
floodgates. There perhaps wasn't time to shut them against the water and
one of other gates with bars has been bent right off its hinges. This
let a torrent through the tunnel generating a pretty unimaginable force,
the major difference this time compared to the others.
As you might imagine, the cost of flood insurance down in town is prohibitive for many businesses. And, even as I write, a rather nasty looking storm cloud has just come in off the sea bringing several minutes of wind and rain. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: tonisdad
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 13:42
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Really has to be seen to be believed. Would think for some businesses it will be a full season`s profit wiped out. We decided to go to Algarve shopping yesterday for a bit of cover..of course parked underground. When we returned to the car it was surrounded by 6" of water. There was only one exit open the rest were under water. Of course we were muttering. Then as the day wore on and the realisation of what some people and businesses were suffering down the Old Town was coming to light via facebook youtube etc.  .Poor people devestating. |
Posted By: Andrew
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 15:09
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Sky News. http://news.sky.com/video/1580319/one-killed-in-portugal-floods ------------- Andrew |
Posted By: Jayjan
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 15:50
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Yes very sad, one guy found near his car which was under water, near to Boliqueme, apparently had gone out to the shop.
http://www.theportugalnews.com/ ------------- Polli the dancing cat strikes again. |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 16:02
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A quick heads up on a couple of things I noticed on a trip to the shops this afternoon. The Pingo Doce opposite the health centre and down from Eden Resorot was flooded out. Staff were disposing of the stock into skips when I passed. The Rua do MFA , down past the Cavern and Geordie Viking, is being closed from time to time to allow rescue and recovery vehicles down into town and back up with rubble etc. Lots of yellow kit is being assembled on the ruins of Avenida Liberdade. A bus driver said he was driving his bus down the Avenida Liberdade into town a little after 1pm yesterday. He said he felt the road moving beneath him as if he was on a wave. Two hours later the road was gone. And as if to rub salt into the wounds, it is raining hard again. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: Andrew
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 17:10
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This video really brings home the enormity of it all.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FZl6ZH4Qg ------------- Andrew |
Posted By: john2604smith
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 17:21
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Some of the video's I watched were absolutely shocking ! I feel so sorry for the business owners and all their staff, it looks like Albufeira will be a no go zone for quite some time. What we need is several weeks of dry settled weather to enable things to return to normal ! If any one knows of someone who is in need of accommodation whilst their own place gets put back together, please pm me. ------------- ownersdirect P3708 |
Posted By: Jayjan
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 19:17
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More photos of the aftermath in Old Town http://www.sulinformacao.pt/2015/11/fotogaleria-albufeira-o-dia-seguinte/
------------- Polli the dancing cat strikes again. |
Posted By: tonisdad
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 19:40
| Nice gesture John |
Posted By: akay85
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 20:52
| such sad news! i visited in june and its a lovley! fell in love with the old town and booked again for end of this month, could anybody tell me if the eden resort hotel effected? x |
Posted By: Seven
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 20:53
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Still almost in a state of shock to see these images. To think three weeks ago we were there. Thoughts and best wishes go to the residents and businesses affected. |
Posted By: stuart123
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 21:08
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Wow, pictures just show the force of nature - must have been some rain storm. |
Posted By: RuthB82
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 21:42
| Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and am looking for a bit of advice. Albufeira residents will be most helpful I think. Having seen the awful floods and subsequent damages caused to the town I set up a GoFundMe page to raise some money in order to help with the clean up operation. Since last night there has been a total of £360 in generous donations. My quandary is in not sure how to get this money across to Albufeira and who it should go to. Would anybody over there know of a charity, or organisation that it could go to? Any advice would be gratefully received, I hope you're all well after the recent events. |
Posted By: Walrus
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 22:07
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It's terrible to see and must be simply awful for the people and businesses, the only positive (and a very, very tiny positive at that)is that it happened at the end of the season rather than beginning or mid way through. ------------- Do not meddle in the affairs of cats for they are subtle and will pee on your computer! |
Posted By: bebop
Date Posted: 02/November/2015 at 23:08
| Thank you to all of you good people who are there in Albufeira for sharing the pictures of these really sad scenes with us. I can only imagine the work that is going on there trying to clear the debris that has been left there after all that horrible weather. I see see the 'Vintage' off-licence where my friend Susannah was working is very much below water. I do hope that she had returned home to Armacao at the end of the season before this terrible weather arrived. My heart goes out to all of the traders in the old town area who are affected by this force of nature. |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 09:04
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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. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: RuthB82
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 09:07
| Hi there Cubsur, I just sent you a pm so just ignore that lol. I will keep my eyes open for more info on the disaster fund, thank you for your reply. So far the total is at £450 so hopefully this will go some way to helping out |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 09:14
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. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: port princess
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 09:57
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Thanks Tom for all your info .hope they set up fund soon as hopefully there will be lots of donations however small that will help with the clean up for the businesses . ------------- Portprincess |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 13:19
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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" rel="nofollow - http://1drv.ms/1GXC499 ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 14:15
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Thanks very much for the photos, it really highlights the full extent of the damage,such a horrible thing to have happened, I hope all the businesses are up and running soon it is so devastating for them. ------------- my beautiful portugal |
Posted By: TWorld
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 15:01
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Boa Tarde, Wishing you all well and hope that recovery from this is not too long for all of you. ------------- |
Posted By: cheekygirl
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 15:17
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Thanks Tom for keeping us updated on the situation. ------------- Loving it in the sun |
Posted By: DICEYUK
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 16:18
 ------------- I hate how peopleï compare Frank Zappa to God. I mean, he's cool and great and nice and everything, but he's no Zappa. |
Posted By: gerry
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 16:36
| A guy in the know told me today that most of the bars are owned by 4 or 5 people so they are OK its the independents I feel sorry for he also said all the water from Ferreiras runs to the sea through the Albufeira Oldtown and they have built in top of it without proper drainage pipes so in a storm like that they have no chance. |
Posted By: pyrman
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 20:02
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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. ------------- Pyrman |
Posted By: bob d
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 21:25
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Fishermans beach can be reached easily from the hill up past Hotel Sol e Mar. This route will keep you away from all the activity in Bar Street and the Square. I for one will keep using the establishments that are able to open. ------------- we're not brazil we're norn iron |
Posted By: carolenclive
Date Posted: 03/November/2015 at 22:20
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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.
------------- caz |
Posted By: Jayjan
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 00:09
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Just read this in Algarvedailynews, some of the comments in the publication by officials are a complete joke. http://algarvedailynews.com/news/7102-albufeira-still-not-classified-as-an-official-disaster-zone ------------- Polli the dancing cat strikes again. |
Posted By: Margb1509
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 01:20
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thanks for the photos cubsur, it's very devastating to see my family's hometown completely destroyed. thankfully for our family our houses are on Trav. Alves Correia and Rua MFA so we did not have property damage, unlike the majority of the people in the baixa. I just hope that this is a lesson for the irresponsible council that authorised the destruction of the original Ribeira. when this was done my family all said that it was a disaster waiting to happen. Even though historically Albufeira was always prone to flooding, but while the original river was there the damage was not as extensive. I hope they now realise that they need to do something with the drainage from the hills and to allow the natural course of water to flow to the sea because nature will always reclaim its course. All the best to everyone there, I wish I could be there to help out. ------------- -Marg http://www.google.com/pros/margaret.barrett1 - http://www.google.com/profiles/margaret.barrett1 |
Posted By: Algarveaddick
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 08:23
No more than you would expect from a "centre" right politician. And one with a dodgy comb over to boot... 
|
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 09:21
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The clean up effort continued well into last night. Power is back on, in general terms, but of course many premises are still dark as their internal cabling etc has been damaged. The square is now largely clear of mud and rocks. A thin layer of very wet mud covers the various streets. The Sol e Mar hotel is open again. Other businesses nearby were trading normally. Cars were being removed from basement car parks. I was told that in one case the pressure of the water was such that cars were crushed against the roof of a car park. A major difference between this flood and previous events has been noticed. This time water was dammed up to some extent in and behind the tunnel under the roundabout along the former river valley. This is what it is designed to do, but not with that amount of water. The tunnel that carries the river under the town must have been full. The discharge on Sunday afternoon was certainly enormous. The tunnel was rebuilt after the 207 flood. Let's hope someone had been tasked to inspect it regularly. There is still the question of blocked roadside ditches to be answered. Those alongside the Avenida dos Descobrimentos down the hills toward Dois Mundos roundabout and entrance to town have been blocked for years with mud and rock. With such an amount of rain as we had on Sunday, it overflows and runs into town across the surface rather than underground. A local weather station recorded 100mm or about 4" of rain in the 12 hours from 01.00hrs to 13.00hrs when it eased off. There may have been no time to close the two flood doors, or perhaps no-one could be mobilised. As you see from previous pictures the water rose several feet in the space of two hours The force of the water coming out of the tunnel broke up the embankment on which the road sat, bringing into town large amounts of rock and ripped up cobblestones, which were hurled like bullets through windows, into cars etc. Previously the floods had mostly welled up from underneath as the drains overflowed, or sea water had come in. There is a noticeable absence any any bad smells, indicating that it was surface water that did the damage. As for the comment about Albufeira not being declared a disaster zone, one report states that adequate warning was given of extreme weather but was not acted upon. The finger pointing will continue for some time I am sure. If the river were restored to its original state, it would be dry for several months of the year and a mosquito breeding ground for the rest. It would present a very unattractive sight for tourists and residents alike. That's unless the tides were allowed to come in as in the picture below. Not a proposition anyone would agree with I feel sure. Meanwhile, a few new pictures. First, an interesting comparison of Albufeira in times gone by and this week, sent by el birnn  And some from last night    Some had left the cat some scraps. It was almost the only thing moving in the street apart from pumps and some GNR, presumably guarding against looters. Further up the road two trucks were being loaded with ruined furniture etc.  ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: Morgana
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 09:37
| Thankyou ever so much for the map my flat is a few roads to the right l was so worried. |
Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 09:45
Thanks as always for the photos, the wee cat looks a bit shell shock.  ------------- my beautiful portugal |
Posted By: Big Col
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 11:01
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Thanks for the continued updates and photos, very informative. ------------- Colin |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 16:34
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A Google search 'Albufeira flood November 2015' brings up this page second. Well done everyone. The storm water outfall. I estimate at least 3000 cubic metres of sand was swept away. Plus the large amount near the pier and at the other outfall by Inatel. All will need to be replaced by next summer.   ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 16:55
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I next plan to go into town on Saturday around lunchtime in the hope of seeing some real progress around the Square, Avenida Libedade and Avenida 25 de Abril. Today there were about 3 hours of fairly heavy rain which won't have helped. Meanwhile, all your contributions gratefully received. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: Jind
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 22:16
| Just got back to UK from albufeira yesterday. How is the clean up going. They were doing really well, but I could not see if they cleared the main square |
Posted By: Jayjan
Date Posted: 04/November/2015 at 22:17
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More from the Algarvedailynews http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/7109-albufeira-floods-made-worse-by-unauthorised-council-work
------------- Polli the dancing cat strikes again. |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 05/November/2015 at 00:28
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Just walked home from One 4 the Road Bar. GNR were on station at all ways into the flood affected area. No-one gets past without being questioned. There is effectively a curfew in thethose streets. The beach end of Avenida 25 de Abril below the escalators is now mostly clear of major debris. There is still a lot of mud. Power is on, but many buildings are still dark. Cais Herculano etc OK but nothing open as would be expected at 11pm at this time of year. Rua 5 de Outubro almost clear of debris but nothing open. I see no reason why they shouldn't be if they wish. Everything 'above' the escalators heading that way is open, except those places that always close at the end of October. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: Margb1509
Date Posted: 05/November/2015 at 01:47
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Finally a story that explains exactly what went on with the Council, an unauthorised construction that went ahead despite expert warnings of possible disaster and despite an actual, legal embargo on the work. The river could obviously not remain a "river" as such, however if they were to construct drainage for the water in heavy rain you would expect the so-called "engineers" to have done some extensive research on the history of Albufeira and realise that a few pipes under the road were not going to do the job. Sure in this case the rain was extreme and floods would probably have happened regardless of any drainage built, however, if the works were done to spec and taking into account the history of the flooding out to sea of this city, perhaps the drainage would have worked better and avoided a catastrophe of this magnitude. I certainly hope that somebody is held accountable for this crime, because what has occurred here is certainly a crime against the people of Albufeira and in a country where accountability for politicians is an extreme rarity, I hope this will be a landmark case. The city should launch a class-action against the powers that be who authorised this travesty and in fact caused this catastrophic event and the absolute destruction of many people's lives. ------------- -Marg http://www.google.com/pros/margaret.barrett1 - http://www.google.com/profiles/margaret.barrett1 |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 05/November/2015 at 14:04
A quick update. I went past the top of Avenida da Liberdade on the bus
earlier. Men and machines are busy tearing down what remains of the
road. A temporary track has been laid from the roundabout into the
surface car park, which is more or less intact, allowing access to
contractor's vehicles. I also saw a truck let through to deliver new
kitchen equipment to somewhere. Temporary electrical ducting is being laid to replace that damaged. This picture shows the flood doors open. No-one is quite sure whether they were forced open by the pressure of the water or whether they were deliberately opened to release the pressue and prevent the water overtopping the main road embankment. Somehow I cannot see some bloke working in two metres of raging water to push them open.  The entrance to Albufeira Camping is still being cleared of thick mud. Pingo Doce supermarket opposite the health centre is still mopping up. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 06/November/2015 at 10:56
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I walked through the affected area around 945pm last night. Cleaning up operations were winding up for the day. There is a still a thin layer of mud but this is gradually being washed away by light rain or hosepipes. Earlier I saw damaged cars being removed from basement car parks. All the major debris has now been moved. Restaurants, bars and shops are still closed while they await new furniture, fittings and stock. Such things do not appear overnight. The expectation here is that those that would normally open in winter will be open in perhaps two weeks, maybe less. A major priority is to get everything ready for New Year's Eve. This includes repairs to the beach where several thousand cubic metres of sand were washed away. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: bob d
Date Posted: 06/November/2015 at 11:54
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The one shining light (literally) in the square was the Tic Tac bar which is open. Also, well done to Casa da Fonte which is open with half the road missing outside the door. They have wooden sheets down for access. ------------- we're not brazil we're norn iron |
Posted By: Slushpuppy
Date Posted: 06/November/2015 at 15:03
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Hi everyone, I absolutely love the Algarve, have been going there for close to 30 years. I was gobsmacked to see the floods in my newsfeed on Facebook, I still have not seen it on TV or in the press in the UK. Albufeira is beautiful, and I really hope the town and the people get back on their feet soon. I would be keeping an eye on things from a personal point of view, but I also need to as my parents are booked to come out there on Dec 1st. They are staying in the Paraiso and from what I see, that area is ok. We are worried about my Mum's limited mobility though, and we're thinking damaged roads and pavements will be a real problem for her. Also, are the escalators operating? Worst case scenario, I may need to book them accomodation in another town. Wishing you all a speedy recovery from this. |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 07/November/2015 at 07:27
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The escalators are not operating but can now be used as steps. As of
last night, the roads marked in yellow on my map below are now fully open for
business as are the the places along Cais Herculano eg Tasca da Viegas, A Taverna
and Flavours. Don't forget that many restaurants and tourist bars would
be closed at this time of year in any case. Restaurants and bars along streets in red are still closed, except Casa do Benfica was open. That is of course on a 1st floor. Tic Tac bar has power and looks open but it is not, they are still cleaning up. The mud has almost gone, but there is a lot of damage to the surfaces of the cobblestoned streets including some of the 'yellow' ones and the side of the square by the Rock Café that will need to be repaired. But December 1st is 3 weeks away. Don't start thinking alternatives just yet. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 07/November/2015 at 07:32
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I will be in town later, camera in hand, to record progress with the clean up and road repair. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 07/November/2015 at 07:41
|
That will be great, thanks for all the updates. ------------- my beautiful portugal |
Posted By: Morgana
Date Posted: 07/November/2015 at 08:51
| I really appreciate the updates l do not know anyone personally in Albufeira and so l am really glad l found this forum.My flat escaped the floods but l was so worried l just hope now something will be done so the authorities will put right the damage |
Posted By: bob d
Date Posted: 07/November/2015 at 09:43
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"Tic Tac Bar not open". Afirmative. My mistake the other night. When walking through the Square with Cubsur it had all its lights on and I assumed it was open but alas not. Some folk have asked me to check out the ever popular Lima at Metz Bar, opposite the bottom of the escalators. The bar is a mess but Lima is surprisingly very upbeat as he and 3 others clean up at speed. He reckons he will reopen in about a week or so. ------------- we're not brazil we're norn iron |
Posted By: sidsmum
Date Posted: 07/November/2015 at 17:18
| Cubsur, were you wearing red shorts & dried out walking boots? |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 07/November/2015 at 19:58
Red shorts yes and black Reebok trainers. I have added the pictures taken at lunchtime today to the album at http://1drv.ms/1GXC499" rel="nofollow - http://1drv.ms/1GXC499 The caption will tell you the start point. I have been trying to caption some individual pictures but the photo folder won't let me. Most of you will know where the places are. The loudest noise in town was the sound of industrial dryers. The warm and dry weather is helping the clean up. A couple of the chinese shops were busy hosing down their plastic shoes so they can put them back in stock. Squads of cleaners were descending into basement car parks. The escalators are not working but can be used. GNR are no longer stopping people walking down into town, in daytime at least. There are a few piles of sand and rubble to be moved, but most has gone. Reconstruction of the washed away road is proceeding at pace. It's difficult to say when everywhere will be open, that wants to be. Bob D's reckoning of a week or so for some seems about right to me, but larger places have more to do and more to put back together. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 07/November/2015 at 20:17
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Dear God, what devastation, what a huge amount of work to get things back to normal. Thanks very much for the update. ------------- my beautiful portugal |
Posted By: Spanky69
Date Posted: 07/November/2015 at 21:10
| This is devastating news what has happened to the area. We visit this area every year for a week at the end of November/beginning of December, so all the photographs are of areas we know well It is amazing how much had been achieved in the clear up after a few days and with the more recent pictures the work achieved is amazing. As a community you should be proud of how you have pulled together and achieved so much in such a short space of time. Looking forward to visiting in a few weeks, and thank you for all the updates. Although I am amazed how this has not made the new the UK! |
Posted By: Andrew
Date Posted: 08/November/2015 at 08:59
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It was on Sky News. ------------- Andrew |
Posted By: carolenclive
Date Posted: 08/November/2015 at 16:20
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I must admit we watch Sky news all the time and never saw it being reported.We found out from friends who live over there.
------------- caz |
Posted By: Andrew
Date Posted: 08/November/2015 at 16:55
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Still on their web site... http://news.sky.com/story/1580273/one-dead-as-severe-flooding-hits-portugal ------------- Andrew |
Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 08/November/2015 at 17:13
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Yes I noticed that video earlier, just horrendous. ------------- my beautiful portugal |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 09/November/2015 at 11:04
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I will do another photo update on Wednesday. Meanwhile any of your photos etc gratefully received. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 09/November/2015 at 16:40
I will do a bigger update on Wednesday, but just quickly I noticed on my way to the shops this afternoon that machinery was busy tearing down the overhanging bank above the Avenida da Liberdade, opposite the car park. Someone obviously thought water cascading down that hill is a problem. There is no longer a GNR road block at the top, although there are still barriers part way across. You can walk or cycle down ok through the relatively undamaged car park. One or two cars were doing likewise but obviously can go further than the car park.  Meanwhile, let's hope something is done soon about this. In the 250 metres or so from the Dolphins to the Dois Mundos roundabout, five of the seven drains were blocked. This is not new blockage either, plants are sprouting in the clay that has been there for months, if not years.  ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: bob d
Date Posted: 09/November/2015 at 18:17
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On the plus side the small bar at the end of Bar Street (beach end) is open. Think it's called Kebab House. Rock Cafe are hoping/hopeful of opening tomorrow. They are just waiting for their sound system to be sorted. Tic Tac Bar still well lit at night and with the TV on although still not open. ------------- we're not brazil we're norn iron |
Posted By: Morgana
Date Posted: 09/November/2015 at 18:23
| The last photo should be sent o the town hall |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 10/November/2015 at 10:55
One was, a year or so ago. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 11/November/2015 at 17:28
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November 11th The clean up and rebuilding operations are going well. The continued warm and dry weather is certainly helping. The main road into the old town, Avenida da Liberdade is having to be completely rebuilt. In addition, power and phone cables are having to be relaid. Water mains are being replaced. A few shops and cafés along the wide part of the Avenida are now open, but beyond there into the square and through the old town almost everywhere is still closed. Many restaurants and bars would not normally be open in November anyway. Basement car parks are being pumped out. Many businesses are still drying out. The beach is being reshaped to fill the canyon caused by the floodwater. Tides are high at this time of year and there is a slight risk of seawater coming into town which would be no good at all. Away from the major impacted area, business is already back to normal. I have updated my status map as below.
------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: Jind
Date Posted: 11/November/2015 at 21:56
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Thank you for the update. It's so good to see the affected areas getting cleaned up and the re building of the area so quickly after the floods. Please keep taking photos |
Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 11/November/2015 at 22:14
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Thanks for the update, it is brilliant to hear there is such progress. ------------- my beautiful portugal |
Posted By: merryforge
Date Posted: 12/November/2015 at 08:19
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Thank you so much for the updates, especially to Cubsur for all his pictures. So sorry to see the devastation - those poor businesses! Really admire the way the clean-up has been tackled so promptly. What a dreadful thing to happen to this lovely town.
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Posted By: enrique
Date Posted: 12/November/2015 at 11:29
| my wife and I were devastated when we heard of the flood , we love the old town and have many tout friends who work there, we will come again in July ,the latest posts are giving us some hope of a good recovery and we hope that ALL the bars and restaurants have a good recovery, and Albufeira returns to as near normal as possible , good luck everybody |
Posted By: bob d
Date Posted: 12/November/2015 at 14:45
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The Rock Cafe is now open as is the A Mare next door. The workers at Vertigo are all sitting outside having a drink so looking good for opening soon. UPDATE..Vertigo say they will probably not open until January. The beach bar O Farols is open and the canyon at fishermans beach where the water all rushed out is filled in again. ------------- we're not brazil we're norn iron |
Posted By: wendyhsmith
Date Posted: 12/November/2015 at 16:26
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What about the hardware shop O Vitor? |
Posted By: john2604smith
Date Posted: 12/November/2015 at 16:58
Vertigo closed for Christmas and New Year  Missing out on a big money earning period ! They could close 2nd week in January as they wouldn't miss out on a great deal!------------- ownersdirect P3708 |
Posted By: bob d
Date Posted: 13/November/2015 at 00:01
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Hardware shop O'Vitor is still closed. ------------- we're not brazil we're norn iron |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 13/November/2015 at 09:09
They've temporarily relocated to their warehouse just off Rua das Telecommunicações, near the Finanças office. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 13/November/2015 at 10:00
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FLOOD RELIEF APPEAL People were asking about this. the official appeal is accepting donations: Bank: Crédito AgrÃcola Albufeira Account name : Albuf Unida e Solidária-Intempérie de 01-NOV 2015 NIB: 0045 7012 40276144016 40 IBAN: PT50-0045 7012 4027 6144 0164 0 BIC/SWIFT: CCCMPTPL See more at: http://portugalresident.com/flood-damages-in-albufeira-top-%E2%82%AC10-million-%E2%80%A6-and-that%E2%80%99s-only-for-those-insured#sthash.x7v9KsSs.dpuf" rel="nofollow - http://portugalresident.com/flood-damages-in-albufeira-top-%E2%82%AC10-million-%E2%80%A6-and-that%E2%80%99s-only-for-those-insured#sthash.x7v9KsSs.dpuf ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: bob d
Date Posted: 13/November/2015 at 14:46
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And so it continues at pace......... Urban Pizza at the ground floor of Hotel Baltum opened last night. The coffee house at the bottom of the escalators with the yellow seats on the corner reopened today. Sir Harrys is open and has live music tonight. Nearly all of the souvenir shops on the Ave de Liberade are open today as is Central Planet. The Ave de Liberade is still quite muddy and has loads of pipes pumping out basements but no problem with access. As Cubsur says, the weather is glorious and this all helps. ------------- we're not brazil we're norn iron |
Posted By: john2604smith
Date Posted: 13/November/2015 at 15:43
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Happy days ! ------------- ownersdirect P3708 |
Posted By: LeeEssex
Date Posted: 13/November/2015 at 15:57
Hi there - i am arriving tomorrow staying here, is this affected by the floods at all?Your Accommodation
- SOL E MAR HOTEL
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Posted By: finalwhistle
Date Posted: 13/November/2015 at 17:11
| Nice to see sir Harrys open I was in there when it got flooded. I will be able to go back in for a pint when over for new year |
Posted By: finalwhistle
Date Posted: 13/November/2015 at 17:16
| If I knew how to upload video from phone I have footage from start to pics when pub had water up to over halfway through bar |
Posted By: S1gh
Date Posted: 13/November/2015 at 21:04
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Hi LeeEssex, Hotel Sol E Mar is fine, no problems with it being high up. Everybody in a lot of trouble if this hotel floods as it is high up above the tunnel |
Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 14/November/2015 at 09:15
You can't upload video here. Try Youtube and post a link here. ------------- Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve |
Posted By: bob d
Date Posted: 15/November/2015 at 18:54
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Much heartened the other night walking through the Square with Cubsur to hear loud music blearing out again at the Rock Cafe and Sir Harrys. Also happy to report that Lima has reopened the Metz Bar and Tic Tac bar was open today. ------------- we're not brazil we're norn iron |
Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 15/November/2015 at 19:04
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That is such good news ------------- my beautiful portugal |
Posted By: Andrew
Date Posted: 15/November/2015 at 19:27
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Bobby D, I hear you've booked you're return flight 24 hours too early, again! 😫 ------------- Andrew |