Portugal’s Coimbra Faces ‘Once-in-a-Century’ Floods as Mondego River Overflows and A1 Collapses

The historic university city of Coimbra, in central Portugal, is confronting one of the most serious flood emergencies in its modern history. After weeks of relentless rain, the Mondego River has surged beyond seasonal norms, leading to the partial failure of river defenses, the collapse of a key stretch of the A1 motorway and the evacuation or pre-evacuation of thousands of residents along the riverbanks. As of February 14, 2026, local authorities, civil protection teams and national officials are engaged in a race against time to safeguard lives and critical infrastructure, while communities brace for what is being described as a once-in-a-century flood scenario.

A Region on Edge as the Mondego River Swells

Coimbra lies at the heart of the Mondego basin, a river system that has long shaped the city’s history, economy and landscape. This winter, however, the river has become a major threat. Successive Atlantic storms over recent weeks have saturated soils across central Portugal and pushed reservoirs close to capacity. Hydrological data from the Portuguese Environment Agency on February 14 show inflows and outflows at key reservoirs in the Mondego basin still running at elevated levels, reflecting an ongoing struggle to manage large volumes of water upstream and downstream.

The situation escalated sharply on February 11, when a protective dike on the right bank of the Mondego near Casais, on the outskirts of Coimbra, burst. The failure occurred close to the A1 viaduct, one of the most important pieces of transport infrastructure in Portugal, linking Lisbon and Porto. The breach unleashed powerful flows across the floodplain and undermined the stability of the motorway access structures. A section of the A1 subsequently collapsed after traffic had already been halted as a precaution, dramatically underlining the severity of the flooding and the scale of the risks facing the region.

In the days that followed, the Mondego remained dangerously high. Coimbra’s mayor, Ana Abrunhosa, warned of the possibility of a “100-year flood,” describing a scenario in which water volumes at the weir-bridge through the city could reach around 3,000 cubic meters per second. That would be enough to inundate large parts of the urban riverfront and low-lying districts. Local authorities identified vulnerable zones on both banks of the river, including downtown riverside areas, parks, river beaches and residential neighborhoods in outlying parishes that hug the Mondego and its tributaries.

Throughout this period, overnight briefings from regional civil protection have alternated between cautious relief and renewed warning. On the night of February 12 into February 13, officials reported a relatively calm situation, with no additional mass evacuations required. Yet they emphasized that river levels and dam outflows remained at the limit of what could be safely managed, and that conditions could shift quickly with any new burst of heavy rain. For residents and business owners along the river, the message has remained clear: stay alert and be ready to move.

Mass Evacuations and a City in Preventive Standby

Even before the dike failure at Casais, officials in Coimbra had begun moving people out of harm’s way. On February 11, the municipality announced plans to evacuate between 2,800 and 3,000 residents living in areas identified as most at risk from rising waters and potential dike breaches. Many had already left on their own initiative, seeking shelter with relatives and friends in safer neighborhoods or nearby towns.

Formal evacuation orders and voluntary departures have focused on several riverside communities and parishes. Low-lying sections of Torres do Mondego and Ceira, as well as parts of São Martinho do Bispo, Ribeira de Frades, Taveiro, Ameal and Arzila, have been singled out as especially vulnerable. Temporary reception centers have been set up in local schools and community buildings, such as Casa do Povo de Ceira and the school facilities in Taveiro, to host evacuees who are unable to stay with family. Elderly residents in care homes have been moved to larger facilities like the Mário Mexia sports pavilion.

By February 13, local and national media were reporting that total evacuations associated with the Coimbra floods and the broader storm sequence in central Portugal had reached or exceeded 3,000 people. Civil protection sources have warned that if the worst-case “100-year flood” scenario materializes, the number of people directly affected could climb significantly higher. In planning exercises and emergency briefings, authorities have cited figures of up to 9,000 residents who may need to be moved if water overtops additional defenses or if key flood control structures fail.

Despite these stark projections, the city center itself has, at times, remained in a state of tense readiness rather than active evacuation. On February 13, Coimbra’s City Council noted that the night had “gone better than expected” and that, for the moment, no generalized evacuation order for downtown districts had been issued. Instead, residents and shopkeepers in the historic Baixa and riverfront areas were urged to protect belongings, prepare go-bags and follow instructions immediately should authorities signal the need to leave. Schools across the municipality were closed as a precaution, as were civic services and some cultural venues, in order to keep people out of high-risk zones and free up space for emergency operations.

Transport Disruption and Infrastructure Under Strain

The flooding has exposed how vulnerable critical infrastructure in central Portugal can be when confronted with extreme hydrological events. The collapse of a section of the A1 motorway near Coimbra is among the most striking examples. Engineers and civil protection officials have attributed the failure to the combination of saturated soils, extreme flows in the Mondego and the undermining of a structural support following the dike breach at Casais. While traffic had been stopped beforehand, preventing casualties on the highway itself, the closure of this arterial route has major implications for national mobility and logistics.

With the A1 severed between Coimbra Norte and Coimbra Sul junctions, long-distance traffic between Lisbon and Porto has been forced onto alternative routes, some of which are themselves prone to flooding or congestion in adverse weather. Freight operators, long-haul bus services and private motorists are all facing longer journeys and higher costs, and there is concern that prolonged disruption could hamper relief efforts and economic recovery in the region. Repairing the damaged section of the motorway is expected to be complex and could take weeks, depending on how long high water levels persist and what further damage is uncovered once engineers can safely access the site.

Rail links in and around Coimbra have been affected as well. Low-lying stretches of track near Coimbra-B station and riverside lines have been subject to speed restrictions or temporary suspensions during peak flows. In some cases, infrastructure managers have had to close sections of line entirely as a preventive measure to avoid washouts or track bed erosion. This has complicated travel for commuters, students and tourists who rely on Coimbra’s rail connections, and has placed additional pressure on already stressed road networks.

Within the city, smaller roads and local bridges along the Mondego and its tributaries have also been closed or monitored closely. Landslides, standing water and weakened pavements add another layer of hazard in a terrain of hills and river valleys. Municipal services have deployed teams to inspect slopes, clear drainage channels and remove fallen trees, but the scale of maintenance required after weeks of storms has stretched capacity. For visitors unfamiliar with the region, the shifting patchwork of closures and detours underscores the importance of up-to-date local information and flexible travel plans.

Government Response, Political Fallout and the Climate Context

The Coimbra floods are not an isolated episode but part of a broader wave of extreme weather that has battered Portugal since late January. A series of named storms have swept across the Iberian Peninsula, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and coastal surges. Nationwide, at least 15 to 16 people have been reported dead, hundreds injured and thousands displaced, with central and southern regions among the hardest hit. The government has maintained a state of calamity in dozens of municipalities, unlocking emergency funds and special response mechanisms.

At the political level, the crisis has already claimed high-profile consequences. Portugal’s interior minister, Maria Lúcia Amaral, resigned earlier in the week after mounting criticism of the government’s handling of the storms and floods. Opposition parties have accused the administration of reacting too slowly to weather warnings, underestimating risks in vulnerable river basins and failing to modernize flood defenses and land use planning. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has since taken a more direct role in coordinating the response, visiting Coimbra and other affected areas and pledging support for reconstruction and future resilience measures.

The current emergency has also renewed debate about how Portugal is adapting to climate change. Meteorologists and climate scientists note that the country is seeing more frequent and intense episodes of heavy rainfall, often clustered in short but destructive bursts after periods of relative dryness. In river systems such as the Mondego, this pattern places additional pressure on dams, dikes and spillways that were designed for historical hydrological regimes. Environmental groups and some experts argue that successive governments have been too slow to update flood maps, relocate vulnerable communities and invest in nature-based solutions that could help reduce runoff and buffer peak flows.

For residents of Coimbra and its surrounding valleys, those broader arguments are unfolding against the very immediate reality of flooded homes, shuttered schools and damaged livelihoods. As waters slowly recede in some places while remaining high in others, the balance between urgent rescue and longer-term reflection is delicate. Local voices, from farmers to small business owners, are calling for a recovery that does more than patch up the existing system and instead rethinks how riverside land is used, how infrastructure is sited and how emergency communications reach those most at risk.

On the Ground: Daily Life Upended Along the Mondego

For people who live and work along the Mondego in the Coimbra region, the last two weeks have turned daily routines upside down. Families in riverside neighborhoods have packed bags with essential documents, medications and clothing, ready to leave at short notice. Many have already spent nights sleeping in sports halls, schools or the homes of relatives, following instructions from civil protection teams moving door to door. Farmers in the Mondego valley, one of Portugal’s traditional agricultural heartlands, have watched fields disappear under muddy water, anxious about crop losses and the long-term impact on soil quality.

In the urban center, the floods have also disrupted the cultural and social life for which Coimbra is known. Concerts and community events have been cancelled, including shows in well-known downtown venues. Museums and riverside cultural centers have put in place protective measures, moving exhibits and equipment above anticipated water lines or sealing off ground-floor spaces. University facilities close to the river have limited access, while student life has been punctuated by weather alerts and transport difficulties.

Schools across several parishes were ordered closed even before the most severe flooding hit, to reduce movement in high-risk areas and allow authorities to focus on emergency preparations. For parents, this has meant juggling childcare with work, often remotely where possible. Local officials have appealed to businesses that can operate at a distance to allow employees to stay home, both for safety reasons and to ease pressure on the city’s strained transport network. Many shopkeepers in the historic center have raised merchandise off the floor, installed temporary barriers at doorways and placed sandbags in front of shutters as they wait to see how high the Mondego will rise.

Community solidarity has been evident despite the stress. Volunteers have assisted elderly neighbors with moving furniture and belongings to higher levels, and some have helped staff reception centers for evacuees. For visitors who happen to be in Coimbra during this period, the experience is a stark reminder that even iconic destinations, with their cobbled lanes and medieval towers, are not immune to the extremes of contemporary climate and infrastructure vulnerability.

Safety Guidance for Travelers and Residents

For anyone currently in Coimbra or planning to travel through the region, safety remains the overriding concern. Authorities repeatedly stress that people should avoid unnecessary movement in and around known flood-prone areas, particularly along riverbanks, underpasses and low-lying roads. With the A1 motorway partially closed near Coimbra and some local routes either flooded or under inspection, travelers are urged to check the latest advisories from national road and rail operators before setting out.

Residents in at-risk zones have been advised to keep essential documents, medications and important possessions in a waterproof bag that can be grabbed quickly if evacuation is ordered. Preparing a simple emergency kit with clothing, water, non-perishable food, a flashlight and phone chargers can make a sudden departure less chaotic. Authorities emphasise that people should follow official instructions without delay, as water can rise quickly and conditions can change too rapidly for last-minute improvisation.

Anyone staying in hotels or guesthouses near the Mondego should ask management about flood contingency plans and monitor local news and municipal channels. If accommodations are located directly in identified risk areas such as the riverfront parks or low-lying parts of the historic center, it may be prudent to request a room on a higher floor or consider temporarily relocating to a property on higher ground. Visitors who had planned sightseeing along the river, including parks and riverside promenades, may find access restricted both for their own safety and to allow emergency services room to work.

Local health and civil protection officials also warn against attempting to drive or walk through floodwaters. Even shallow-looking water can conceal damaged road surfaces, open manholes or strong currents, and vehicles can be swept away in conditions that drivers often underestimate. With emergency services stretched and resources prioritized for life-threatening situations, avoiding risk is seen as both a personal and civic responsibility in this unfolding crisis.

What Comes Next for Coimbra and the Mondego Valley

As of February 14, meteorological forecasts and hydrological models suggest that the peak of the current flooding episode may be approaching, but not yet definitively passed. Reservoir managers upstream on the Mondego continue to juggle inflows and controlled outflows, aiming to protect dam integrity while minimizing downstream flooding. The possibility of further intense rain cannot be ruled out, and authorities remain wary of any additional strain on already weakened dikes and embankments around Coimbra.

Once immediate dangers subside, attention is likely to turn rapidly to damage assessment and reconstruction. The repair of the A1 motorway will be a priority at the national level, given its strategic importance for commerce and mobility. In the agricultural lowlands of the Mondego valley, farmers will begin the slow process of draining fields, salvaging equipment and evaluating what can be replanted in time for the upcoming growing seasons. Insurance claims, state support packages and European-level assistance will all play a role in determining how quickly the region can rebound.

For Coimbra itself, the floods may become a turning point in how the city relates to its river. Urban planners, engineers and community groups will face hard questions about where and how people live, work and travel within reach of the Mondego’s floodplain. Proposals may range from reinforcing or redesigning dikes and levees, to creating more space for the river through restored wetlands and parks that can safely flood, to reassessing construction in the most exposed zones. The city’s identity as a historic riverside university hub will remain, but the way it manages water risks will likely need to evolve.

In the meantime, life in Coimbra continues under an unusual and uneasy rhythm. Sirens, weather bulletins and civil protection briefings now punctuate days that, in calmer times, would be dominated by lectures, café conversations and strolls along the river. Whether you are a resident watching the water lines inch up and down, or a traveler briefly passing through, the current flooding offers a sobering glimpse into how climate-driven extremes are reshaping landscapes and communities, and how cities like Coimbra must adapt to a world where once-in-a-century floods may come far more often than they used to.