An 85-year-old British woman has died after an extreme wind storm tore through a campsite in Albufeira, Portugal, causing destruction and injuring dozens of people. The violent storm swept across the Albufeira Camping Park late on Saturday morning, leaving behind extensive damage and chaos.
According to Faro’s district commander for rescue operations, two people sustained serious injuries, while three others suffered minor injuries at the campsite. The nearby Eden Resort was also heavily affected, where 23 people were slightly injured as powerful winds ripped through the area.
The Portuguese national meteorological office (IPMA) announced that it is currently assessing whether the storm involved a tornado, noting that radar imagery suggests a very high probability. The agency added that predicting the exact timing and location of tornadoes remains extremely difficult.
Storm Duration and Extent of Damage
IPMA reported that the storm struck the region around 11:00 GMT on Saturday, lasting until 15:00 GMT.
Footage captured at the campsite shows uprooted trees, scattered debris, and damaged vehicles, including those with broken windows.
Across the two affected sites in Albufeira, there were 28 injured individuals, including
- Six children aged between two months and seven years (all lightly injured)
- Twenty-three adults aged 24 to 70
Portugal’s National Medical Emergency Institute confirmed these figures.
Eyewitness Accounts: “Absolutely Chaotic”
Daniel Gama, managing director of the Eden Resort, described the scene as “absolutely chaotic”, emphasizing the terrifying moments when people were lifted and thrown by the wind inside a restaurant.
He also highlighted the bravery of staff members, saying:
“There were many heroes. Some were injured protecting the children.”
International Reactions
The UK Minister for Europe, Stephen Doughty, expressed his condolences and confirmed that the Foreign Office is monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist affected Britons.
Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro shared his “heartfelt condolences” with the family of the deceased woman and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He praised the quick response of Portugal’s Civil Protection force, though he acknowledged that “unfortunately, serious consequences could not be avoided.”
Storm Claudia Continues to Affect the Region
The severe weather conditions are part of Storm Claudia, which has impacted Portugal and neighbouring Spain over the past two days.
Earlier, on Thursday, an elderly couple in Lisbon died after their home was flooded during the storm.
Several southern districts—including Faro, Setúbal and Beja—remain under orange warning for heavy and persistent rainfall, often accompanied by thunderstorms, according to the IPMA.
