“At 11 am, the flows in Almourol, in the accumulated discharges from the Fratel, Pracana and Castelo de Bode dams, are in the order of 3,500 cubic meters per second (m3/s). This means that the flows of the Tagus and also the Zêzere are decreasing considerably,” the president of the Santarém District Civil Protection Commission, Manuel Jorge Valamatos, who also presides over the Abrantes City Council, told Lusa.

According to hydrometric data recorded at 11 am, the discharges from the Castelo de Bode (1,008 m³/s), Pracana (159 m³/s), and Fratel (2,350 m³/s) dams totalled 3,517 m³/s at the measuring point in Almourol (Vila Nova da Barquinha).

These values ​​represent a significant drop compared to those recorded on Monday, when Almourol had 4,003.9 m³/s at noon, and also contrast with the weekend peaks, which ranged between 7,000 and 7,800 m³/s, after highs exceeding 8,600 m³/s were recorded on Thursday, a situation that led to the activation of the red alert.

Valamatos considered that the most recent data point to a reversal of the most critical trend.

“Based on the information we have, we believe that we will not have flow levels as we have had before. The most serious situations have already passed,” he said, citing information from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), and the sub-regional commands of Civil Protection.

Despite this, the official stressed that the situation continues to raise strong concern at various levels due to persistent rainfall and saturated soils.

“Unfortunately, we continue to have high rainfall rates, the land is very waterlogged, the drainage process is difficult, the streams continue to have very high flows, and, obviously, we remain in a situation of concern,” he stated.

The president of the District Civil Protection Commission explained that, although the dams upstream of Almourol have increased capacity in recent hours, the persistent rainfall on already saturated soils continues to pose several active risks, namely landslides and mudslides.

“As long as the rain persists, we will continue to have high levels of concern, and we have to be very vigilant. The red alert for the Tagus River flood emergency plan will remain active,” he declared.

The mayor estimates that “another day or two” is still needed for the situation to stabilise more consistently and allow progress to the recovery phase.