Lisbon, Feb. 10, 2026 (Lusa) - The Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, announced on Monday that he has mandated LNEC to carry out "a major audit of all critical engineering structures and infrastructure" following the storms that have affected the country.

At the end of a meeting with various entities in the infrastructure sector, Miguel Pinto Luz said that the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC) had been mandated to lead this audit because major infrastructure, such as "large embankments and bridges", cannot "be compromised in extreme situations" such as those that have been experienced in the country.

The infrastructure minister also said that the infrastructure audit will be carried out "in the coming months and years."

"We have to ensure that the legacy of public works is resilient, safe and reliable for the Portuguese people who use it every day," he added, alluding to the collapse of the Entre os Rio Bridge in March 2001, following heavy rains and increased flow in the River Douro.

Miguel Pinto Luz said that Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) is leading the reconstruction of regions affected by bad weather, in conjunction with the municipalities.

The government has approved an additional €400 million for IP to reconstruct infrastructure as part of the support package for the affected regions, which the minister responsible said today is already available.

"We have dozens and dozens of national roads that are closed, in addition to hundreds of municipal roads," the minister stressed.

"What IP is doing with the municipalities is looking for alternatives," he said.

Pinto Luz also said that "we cannot wait months" to guarantee something about mobility in the affected areas.

"The government is concerned with acting through IP, through LNEC, through IMT, but also with helping municipalities in their efforts to rebuild municipal infrastructure," he concluded.

The infrastructure minister met today with the relevant authorities to monitor and assess the effects of the storms, namely the National Communications Authority (Anacom), the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT), Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), CP - Comboios de Portugal, Metropolitano de Lisboa, Metro do Porto, Metro do Mondego, the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation, Public Construction, and the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC).

Fifteen people have died in Portugal since 28 January as a result of the passage of storms Kristin, Leonardo and Marta, which also caused many hundreds of injuries and displaced people.

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.

The Government has extended the state of emergency until the 15th for 68 municipalities and announced support measures of up to €2.5 billion.

CT/ADB // ADB.

Lusa