Coimbra, Portugal, Feb. 10, 2026 (Lusa) - The assessment of the damage caused by floodwaters to the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, in the city of Coimbra, will only be possible after the water level of the Mondego River has dropped, the public institute Património Cultural announced on Monday.
"The final assessment of the damage caused by the floods at the Santa Clara-a-Velha Monastery can only be carried out after the water has been completely drained from the monastery and its cloister, that is, when the river level allows it," it said.
In response to questions posed by the Lusa news agency, the Cultural Heritage Institute considered that the entry of water into the monument was "an inevitable consequence of the rising waters of the Mondego, which in turn resulted from the opening of the Aguieira Dam floodgates on 31 January and 1 February".
"The necessary management of the storage levels of the region's dams and weirs in the face of heavy rains naturally caused a significant increase in the flow of the Mondego, with repercussions on buildings in riverside areas, such as the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha," it said.
According to Cultural Heritage, in view of this timely known flood risk situation, a permanent monitoring operation was immediately set up on the ground, with technical teams monitoring the water levels inside the building 24 hours a day.
Although water has entered the interior of the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, "work is continuing as far as possible" on the refurbishment of the Interpretation Centre, Casa do Paço and exterior improvements, as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
"The works are continuing at a pace that is conditioned by the fluctuations in the river level in the main access area, and may be temporarily interrupted for safety reasons," he added.
The Cultural Heritage Department also announced that, since Sunday, a direct communication channel has been available for citizens to report damage to cultural heritage in their localities caused by bad weather, via the email address reportar@patrimoniocultural.gov.pt.
"Everyone's participation, through reporting damage, locating heritage sites and sending photos, is essential to protect our common heritage," he said.
Fifteen people have died in Portugal since 28 January as a result of the Kristin, Leonardo and Marta storms, which have also left many hundreds injured and homeless.
The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, the fall of trees and structures, the closure of roads, schools and transport services, and the cutting of power, water and communications, floods and inundations are the main material consequences of the storm.
The Central, Lisbon and Tagus Valley and Alentejo regions are the most affected.
CMM/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
