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Tornado devastates Algarve: One dead, several injured in storm!
Violent storm in Portugal: possible tornado causes one death and several injuries, incidents in the Algarve under investigation.
Tornado devastates Algarve: One dead, several injured in storm!
A violent storm led to tragic events in the Algarve in Portugal on Tuesday. According to reports from the National Weather Service, it may have been a tornado that struck in the city of Albufeira. A woman was killed and two other people were seriously injured. The injured people came from a campsite and a hotel in the area. Another 19 people suffered minor injuries, as reported by the Lusa news agency and the civil protection authority.
State TV channel RTP reported significant damage, including destroyed cars with smashed windows, torn branches and extensive damage to buildings. Tornadoes are rare in the Algarve, but not unheard of. Their likelihood increases particularly in autumn, when cold air masses from the north meet the warm, moist sea air.
Experiences with tornadoes in the Algarve
There have been similar incidents in the past: In November 2012, a tornado struck with wind speeds of up to 270 km/h, which left a 300 meter wide path of destruction and left 13 injured. The current storm could be in the same category of weather events, but exact details remain to be verified.
Tornadoes are the most powerful and unpredictable weather systems on Earth. They typically arise from strong winds within a low-pressure system, which cause water vapor in the air to condense into a rotating column of air. The National Weather Service (NWS) describes a tornado as a violently rotating column of air in contact with the Earth's surface.
While the average tornado is relatively small, measuring about 250 feet wide, some of the most catastrophic tornadoes in history can reach winds of over 300 mph and leave devastating destruction in their wake. The recent incident in Portugal is a reminder of how seriously such weather phenomena should be taken.
The authorities are currently assessing the exact circumstances and damage caused by the storm. Further information about possible foreign victims is not yet available.
Given the rarity of such events in the Algarve, where the beauty of the landscape often contrasts with the forces of nature, the population remains in shock at the recent tragedy.