Silves has declared a “situation of municipal alert” after the River Arade overflowed on Wednesday, following days of intense rainfall, compounded by water releases from upstream dams.
From late afternoon onwards, the river rose sharply and spilled over its banks, flooding several parts of the town, particularly riverside areas, and creating “increased risks to people, property and infrastructure,” the council explains in a statement.
Several roads have been flooded and closed to traffic, including Municipal Road 1153-1 and National Road 124-3
The local council says it is monitoring the situation continuously, working alongside Algarve Regional Civil Protection, firefighters, security forces, the National Maritime Authority and dam operators.
A number of measures have already been taken to reduce river flow and limit the impact of the flooding, including reduced discharges from the Odelouca Dam, closure of the floodgates at the Funcho Dam, shutdown of bottom discharges at the Arade Dam, and closure of flooded roads.
These coordinated actions aim to create a safety buffer until the most critical high-tide period has passed, the council adds.
Meanwhile, the municipal civil protection service is urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially near riverside and flood-prone areas; stay away from riverbanks and never attempt to cross flooded areas, on foot or by vehicle; follow instructions from emergency services on the ground; protect property and adopt self-protection measures; stay informed through official channels; and call 112 in case of emergency or imminent danger
The municipality says it will continue to update the public as the situation evolves and stresses that calm and cooperation are essential to ensure public safety.
The situation of municipal alert follows the death of two women in two days in Silves. On Tuesday, a 70-year-old woman lost her life after falling into the Arade River. Her body was discovered hours later near Fontes de Estômbar in the neighbouring municipality of Lagoa. A day later, an 83-year-old Dutch woman died after her car was swept away by the overflowing waters of a nearby stream in Algoz.
