Afternoon Update -- Thursday, 19 February

Twin Earthquakes Rattle Lisbon

Two magnitude 4.1 earthquakes struck near Alenquer at 12:14 and 12:16, felt widely across the Greater Lisbon region. No damage or injuries reported. Civil protection urged caution in areas already weakened by recent storms.

Government Concedes Deficit Now Likely

After weeks of hedging, both the finance and economy ministers have acknowledged Portugal will likely run a budget deficit in 2026 due to storm reconstruction costs. Brussels has agreed to treat the spending as one-off expenditure outside normal fiscal rules.

Cascais Rail Line Resumes Dual-Track Service

CP -- Comboios de Portugal restored dual-track service on the Cascais line on Wednesday after storm damage forced reduced operations. Trains run every 15 minutes during peak hours, though some delays may persist as schedules normalise.

49% of Storm-Hit Homes Uninsured

The insurance regulator revealed that nearly half of homes in calamity-declared municipalities had no storm or flood coverage. Some 114,000 claims have been filed so far, with 42 million euros paid out. Total insured losses may reach 600 million euros.

Portugal to Observe Trump Peace Council

The government confirmed it is open to attending meetings of Trump's Peace Council as an observer, limited to sessions on Gaza peace and reconstruction. More than 20 countries attended the inaugural meeting in Washington.

APAV Reports Record 18,500 Victims Supported in 2025

The Portuguese Association for Victim Support helped over 18,500 people last year, a 42% increase over six years. Domestic violence accounted for 73.9% of reported crimes. Scams and crimes against children also rose significantly.

Cartao de Cidadao Free Renewal Deadline Moved to 17 March

The government has brought forward to 17 March the deadline for requesting a free replacement Cartao de Cidadao (citizen card) for those who lost theirs during the storms. The measure applies to residents in affected municipalities.

PS Demands Calamity Status Extended Through June

The opposition Socialist Party accused the government of failing to deliver storm aid quickly enough and proposed extending the state of calamity to more municipalities and maintaining it at least until the end of June.