Cyclone Gabrielle hits Portugal's Azores causing damage to homes

By&nbspEuronews

Published on 26/09/2025 - 15:10 GMT+2

Gabrielle deed Portugal's Azores islands precocious Thursday into nan early hours of Friday morning, reaching a velocity of 185 kilometres per hr and causing complete 100 incidents and harm to homes.

Winds and rainfall were little aggravated than expected, but nan storm still toppled trees and collapsed roofs, authorities said.

According to Portugal's Civil Protection, location had been 4 cases of harm to homes and a superior 1 astatine Graciosa Aerogare. Four group had to beryllium relocated, 1 connected Graciosa and 3 connected Faial Island, officials said.

Of nan 103 incidents, 49 were resolved, according to nan Civil Protection update. Most reports were of fallen trees, poles, and harm to a roof, pinch nary casualties recorded.

"Fortunately, pinch nan collaboration of nan group and respect for self-protection measures, we were capable to mitigate nan effects of this cyclone," Alonso Miguel, Regional Secretary for nan Environment and Climate Action of nan Azores, said.

The Cyclone reached nan Azores, peculiarly nan Central group (Pico, Faial, Graciosa, Terceira and São Jorge) astatine astir 22:00 connected Thursday, authorities said.

The highest upwind gust, pinch a velocity of 185 km/h, was recorded during nan early hours, successful Serra de Santa Bárbara connected Terceira island, according to an early Friday study from nan NHC - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Schools and nationalist services closed

Ahead of nan cyclone's arrival, nan Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) placed nan islands connected reddish alert, nan highest emergency level, utilized only for utmost upwind events pinch important risk.

Authorities besides cancelled each tourer and recreational activities for 24 hours and shuttered schools and nationalist services, urging group to enactment indoors.

With unsmooth seas expected, nan Civil Protection reminded nan organization that nan cyclone discourse remains, recommending that they enactment astatine location and debar going to nan coastline.

According to an IPMA statement, "from nan extremity of nan 27th - Saturday - connected nan westbound coast, periods of rainfall aliases showers are expected, which whitethorn occasionally beryllium accompanied by thunderstorms, extending to nan remainder of nan territory, particularly to nan Centre and South connected nan 28th".

With nan Azores archipelago lying extracurricular nan region of lukewarm tropical water, which acts arsenic its fuel, it is somewhat uncommon for cyclones to scope nan Portuguese islands.

The past cyclone to deed nan Azores earlier Gabrielle was Gordon successful 2012.