Portugal’s National Maritime Authority has assisted 14 sailboats on the Guadiana River since Wednesday after a sharp rise in water levels made navigation unsafe.
“These were boats that were anchored in the river and ended up dragging anchor or drifting, one of them with people on board, which led to our intervention as part of the Navy’s response framework and in coordination with the Armed Forces,” said Sérgio Pardal, captain of the Port of Vila Real de Santo António and Tavira.
No injuries or significant material damage were reported, he added.
Some of the people on board chose to leave the vessels on their own initiative, while others remained on board boats that were still considered safe.
“The flow of the Guadiana river is currently very strong due to releases from the Pedrógão and Chança dams,” Pardal said, explaining that the discharges were triggered by heavy rain linked to the Leonardo and Kristin storms.
Most of the incidents were reported upstream from Vila Real de Santo António, in narrower sections of the river where the current is stronger and where more vessels are typically anchored.
The operation has been carried out in coordination with Spanish maritime rescue authorities, who also have a vessel supporting navigation on the Guadiana.
Authorities say they will remain on high alert. A Maritime Police team remains on land assessing the condition of docks and riverbanks, while two crews from the Lifesaving Institute are stationed on the river to respond to incidents.
According to Alcoutim’s municipal civil protection service, the Guadiana’s water level began rising from late Wednesday afternoon and has already caused overflow along the riverbanks during high tide.
Source: LUSA
