Tomar, Portugal, Feb. 3, 2026 (Lusa) - The Minister of Culture said on Tuesday, at the Convent of Christ, that Storm Kristin has caused damage to more than 50 national monuments, with the government estimating that around €20 million will be needed for restoration work.
"The latest survey we have shows that more than 50 national monuments have been damaged by the storm or the effects of the very heavy rainfall that followed," said the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, indicating that this list "may grow in the coming days" as the survey continues in the field by teams from the Museums and Monuments of Portugal and Cultural Heritage - Public Institute.
According to the minister, "we estimate that around €20 million will be needed, which has already been set aside for these interventions," acknowledging that additional funds may be required from the Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Fund if new needs arise, citing several damaged churches in the municipality of Pombal as an example.
In the specific case of Tomar, in the district of Santarém, the minister stressed that the Convent of Christ is "one of the most affected cultural sites," which is why she began her tour of visits there, which today also includes Ourém and Batalha, namely the Castle and Palace of the Counts of Ourém and the Monastery of Batalha.
In Tomar alone, the destruction of the Charolinha da Mata dos Sete Montes and the damage to the Convent are expected to exceed €750,000.
"The Charolinha was completely destroyed. Parts fell into the water and very careful drainage and recovery work will be necessary to allow for its reconstruction," she said, pointing to a timeframe of "probably a year" until the intervention is completed.
When asked about costs, she explained: "It will always be more than half a million euros for the Charolinha." As for the Convent of Christ, the preliminary estimate from Museums and Monuments on the previous Saturday was around €250,000.
The minister also highlighted the work of the monument's teams in immediately mitigating the damage. "Stained glass windows were broken and rain was coming in. Within a few hours, the teams managed to find a solution to prevent further damage," she said.
Regarding the other sites visited, she said that "the Monastery of Batalha is the most affected monument," predicting an investment of "more than one million euros for Batalha alone."
In Ourém, despite being municipal property, the authorities were alerted to "serious damage, namely the partial collapse of the roof," saying they would provide technical support to the municipality.
The Mayor of Tomar, Tiago Carrão, described a "devastating" scene in the Mata dos Sete Montes forest.
"Looking there and seeing that is devastating, only fallen trees. Charolinha was completely destroyed," he told Lusa, explaining that the forest was closed to the public due to the risk posed by unstable trees, as was the Convent of Christ.
The director of the Convent of Christ, Andreia Galvão, who accompanied the minister on her visit, also explained that the monument, classified as a World Heritage Site, had suffered the destruction of a stained-glass window and the detachment of two gargoyles, emphasising, however, that "the main damage was to the trees surrounding the monumental complex".
In Tomar, according to Tiago Carrão, alongside ongoing work to clear roads, clean up, and repair roofs, concerns remain about the water supply and the restoration of electricity in some areas of the municipality.
"This has been the main concern, especially the restoration of electricity, because the lack of water results from the absence of electricity in the pumping stations. Until yesterday, we had parishes completely in the dark, but the supply has since begun to be restored. Significant progress was made tonight, which makes us confident that the situation will be completely normalised in the coming days," he said.
Ten people have died since last week as a result of the bad weather. Civil Protection recorded five deaths directly associated with the passage of storm Kristin, and the Marinha Grande City Council announced another fatality, to which were added four deaths recorded due to people falling from roofs (during repairs) or carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator.
The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, fallen trees and structures, road and transport service disruptions, particularly railways, school closures and power, water and communication outages are the main material consequences of the storm, which has left several hundred people injured and homeless.
Leiria, Coimbra and Santarém are the districts with the most damage.
The government has declared a state of emergency for 69 municipalities until next Sunday and announced a package of support measures worth up to €2.5 billion.
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