The storm hit the archipelago during the early hours of 2 October, with maximum wind speeds reaching 163km/h at 8.25am in Corvo.


“In terms of the 171 incidents, 66 were reported in Faial, 23 in Flores, 28 in Pico, 21 in São Jorge, eight in Graciosa, 20 in Terceira, two in São Miguel and three in Corvo,” said Teresa Machado Luciano , the regional secretary of Health of the Azores, who oversees Civil Protection.


According to the official, it was necessary to relocate 53 people on three islands: “four in São Jorge, 42 in Faial and seven in Flores”.


All the people were relocated to family homes or solutions found by the Regional Housing Directorate and the Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity. Among the incidents, the most common were “tree falls, floods and destroyed roads”, but it is the damage in the Port of Lajes das Flores, the only commercial port on the island, that is of the greatest concern to the Azorean executive.


“The most serious occurrence, which is very complicated, is the question of the protective pier in the Port of Lajes das Flores, which was totally destroyed,” said Teresa Machado Luciano.


At the time of going to press the weather warning was down to a yellow alert however the authorities were remaining on “alert” for further incidents.