Floods in Portugal

[IMG=21339-7196]Heavy storms lashed Portugal during Tuesday night flooding homes, uprooting trees and forcing the closure of roads and train lines. Lisbon was announced state of emergency. Meanwhile, Russian travel companies that work in the Portuguese market are not concerned about the current situation even despite the KrasAir Boeing-767 flight to Lisbon on November 3rd. Acording to the KrasAir press service no cancellations were registered and the flight will be operated upon the flight schedule. A representative of Kwinta-tour that has a block of seats on the flight, pointed out: ‘we trust our Portuguese partners. If something serious had happened they would have informed us’. Elena Mirolyubova, Commercial Director of Kwinta-tour added that it is not the first time torrential rains trigged Portugal and before all consequences were quickly eliminated’. Furthermore, Felix Dubovitsky agreed that mass media exaggerated the seriousness of the situation. Moreover, BANKO contacted a representative of Altosol in Portugal who commented as follows: ‘It is raining all over the country, but these are short rains. Heavy rains that forced the closure of roads occurred only in Pombal and Leiria’. The expert also emphasized that he has no information about death cases and that some buildings suffered; therefore an excursion program of the group he supervises will not be changed. Elena Vlasova, Commercial Director of Altosol, added that bad weather in Portugal can not affect the travel industry as high season in the country has come to its end.