Portugal Braces for Presidential Run-Off Amid Ongoing Flood Crisis.
A catastrophic storm, dubbed Leonardo, has wreaked havoc on Portugal and neighboring Spain. The tempest has triggered a massive evacuation effort as severe flooding ravaged the Iberian Peninsula, leaving thousands without power and at least five dead in its wake.
As far-right presidential candidate Andre Ventura called for Sunday's second-round vote to be postponed due to the disaster, saying it was "a matter of equality among all Portuguese", electoral officials have refused his request, insisting on proceeding with the election as scheduled.
Storm Leonardo, which has also left one person dead in Andalusia and sparked a massive rescue effort, is the latest extreme weather event to hit the region. Climate scientists attribute such events to human-driven climate change, which they say is increasing the frequency and intensity of such disasters.
Across Portugal, emergency services were battling against the elements as they evacuated residents from flood-prone areas. Alcacer do Sal mayor Clarisse Campos declared that conditions were too dire for voting to go ahead, citing isolated communities and widespread flooding. Firefighters waded through chest-deep waters to rescue stranded residents, with a 78-year-old pensioner describing her flooded home as "ruined".
Meanwhile, across the border in Spain, authorities reported over 3,200 incidents linked to Storm Leonardo's fury since Monday, including floods, landslides, and building collapses. Rescuers were searching for a missing woman swept away by a river while trying to rescue her dog.
The severe weather conditions have forced schools to remain closed in the worst-hit areas of Andalusia, with heavy disruptions reported on roads and rail transport. The region's leader, Juanma Moreno, reported that 15 municipalities had been cut off due to more than 80 road closures.
As Portugal prepares for its presidential run-off election on Sunday, concerns about public safety have resurfaced, raising questions about the feasibility of holding the vote in such conditions.
A catastrophic storm, dubbed Leonardo, has wreaked havoc on Portugal and neighboring Spain. The tempest has triggered a massive evacuation effort as severe flooding ravaged the Iberian Peninsula, leaving thousands without power and at least five dead in its wake.
As far-right presidential candidate Andre Ventura called for Sunday's second-round vote to be postponed due to the disaster, saying it was "a matter of equality among all Portuguese", electoral officials have refused his request, insisting on proceeding with the election as scheduled.
Storm Leonardo, which has also left one person dead in Andalusia and sparked a massive rescue effort, is the latest extreme weather event to hit the region. Climate scientists attribute such events to human-driven climate change, which they say is increasing the frequency and intensity of such disasters.
Across Portugal, emergency services were battling against the elements as they evacuated residents from flood-prone areas. Alcacer do Sal mayor Clarisse Campos declared that conditions were too dire for voting to go ahead, citing isolated communities and widespread flooding. Firefighters waded through chest-deep waters to rescue stranded residents, with a 78-year-old pensioner describing her flooded home as "ruined".
Meanwhile, across the border in Spain, authorities reported over 3,200 incidents linked to Storm Leonardo's fury since Monday, including floods, landslides, and building collapses. Rescuers were searching for a missing woman swept away by a river while trying to rescue her dog.
The severe weather conditions have forced schools to remain closed in the worst-hit areas of Andalusia, with heavy disruptions reported on roads and rail transport. The region's leader, Juanma Moreno, reported that 15 municipalities had been cut off due to more than 80 road closures.
As Portugal prepares for its presidential run-off election on Sunday, concerns about public safety have resurfaced, raising questions about the feasibility of holding the vote in such conditions.
people's lives are literally being destroyed by this storm and they're still pushing through with the vote... it's not like the whole country is going to be ruined if the election gets postponed for a day or two... and what's equality among all Portuguese got to do with anything? it's just politics as usual... 
! Can't they just pause everything and focus on saving lives? I mean, it's not like this is a normal occurrence, right? 
They need support ASAP! 
Like, what even is a presidential run-off when people are stuck in their homes, waiting for help to arrive?! 
It just doesn't seem right.
like remember the floods in 2017? they were bad but this is different, it's like leonardo storm or whatever is on steroids 
i feel so bad for all those people stuck at home without power or their homes ruined... and now they gotta worry about voting in the presidential election? priorities, right? 
these people are fighting for their lives and we're still worried about who's gonna be president next year lol... i feel so bad for all those ppl affected by storm leonardo, 5 dead and thousands without power is just devastating. shouldnt we prioritize saving lives over politics? 
And now they're like "oh, let's just vote as scheduled"? 
I get that electoral officials are being stubborn, but prioritizing the election over public safety is just not right. 
It's not just about voting; it's about their lives.
anyway im all for postponing elections but at least some ppl think its not a good idea 
, gotta check in with my family and friends who got affected by this crazy storm Leonardo 
. I feel for the people of Portugal and Spain, gotta stay safe out there 
, would be super helpful in situations like this...
also 78 year old pensioner sayin her home is ruined is just heartbreaking 
. And honestly, who needs a presidential run-off in the middle of a natural disaster? It's like the ultimate test of "equality among all Portuguese"... aka, can we all just focus on survival for one day? 
.
. It's not fair to put people's lives at risk just for the sake of a vote 
. Climate change is real, folks! 
Can't we just focus on helping those in need right now? 
It's all about priorities, folks.