A1 motorway collapses near Coimbra after levee breach on River Mondego

A section of Portugal’s A1 motorway collapsed near Coimbra after a levee on the River Mondego burst amid weeks of heavy rainfall and flooding.

According to local authorities, the breach occurred next to one of the pillars supporting the A1 highway, which connects Lisbon and Porto. The road had already been closed by police before a gap formed in the carriageway. The levee failure followed sustained high river levels linked to prolonged storms and recent intense downpours.

Municipal authorities ordered the precautionary evacuation of approximately 3,000 residents in areas considered most at risk from further flooding. Police conducted door-to-door checks while residents were transported to temporary shelters. Officials warned that conditions remained unstable as water levels continued to rise.

Portugal’s environment agency forecast an exceptional period of peak flows on the River Mondego through the weekend. Civil protection authorities also raised concerns about potential overflow at the Aguieira dam, located around 35km northeast of Coimbra, which could trigger additional flooding and further stress on levee systems.

Elsewhere in Coimbra, part of the city’s ancient hillside wall collapsed, forcing road closures and the shutdown of the municipal market. In other parts of central Portugal, evacuations were carried out due to landslide risks, including in Porto Brandão and Caparica.

The A1 motorway section is expected to remain closed for weeks while damage assessments and repair works are undertaken. The collapse follows weeks of severe weather across Portugal, which authorities say has already caused multiple fatalities and extensive infrastructure disruption.