At least five people have been killed as powerful storm Christine swept through central and northern Portugal, causing widespread flooding, landslides, and severe damage. The storm, which struck on Wednesday, left more than 850,000 people without electricity and forced the closure of schools and colleges. Civil Protection authorities reported wind speeds reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour and more than 3,000 incidents across the country.

According to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), the Leiria district was the hardest hit, where three deaths occurred. One person was struck by a metal sheet, another was trapped under a collapsed house structure, and a third died when a tree fell on a car in Vila Franca de Xira. Another fatality was reported in Marinha Grande. The storm also severely disrupted transportation, blocking major highways and rail lines between Lisbon and northern regions.

The event follows a series of storms that have battered Portugal in recent days, including one over the weekend that caused flooding and claimed another life.