Praia, Aug. 20, 2025 (Lusa) - Cabo Verde's government said on Wednesday that all national roads on the island of São Vicente, affected by the storm that caused nine deaths, are now passable, although with some restrictions.
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Spatial Planning and Housing, ‘work has been carried out to clear debris, unblock drains, repair pumping stations and assess houses on hillsides, in order to re-establish access and ensure safety to the population’.
Access to São Vicente airport and the localities of São Pedro, Baía das Gatas and Salamansa, one of the worst affected, has already been re-established. Streets have been reopened in several neighbourhoods.
At the same time, social measures are being put in place to support affected families, including emergency income and pensions, temporary rehousing, rent subsidies, housing rehabilitation and the allocation of social housing to vulnerable households.
The spokeswoman for the National Civil Protection and Fire Service (SNPCB), Vitória Veríssimo, said on Wednesday that Electra has increased water production in São Vicente to 7,800 cubic metres per day and is continuing to restore the remaining collection pumps.
The floods about a week ago flooded neighbourhoods, destroyed roads, bridges and shops, affected the power supply and caused nine deaths.
The country's minister for internal affairs, Paulo Rocha, told Lusa today that there are still two missing, after a mentally disturbed woman had not been seen since the storm.
The government declared a six-month disaster situation in São Vicente, Porto Novo (Santo Antão) and the two municipalities of São Nicolau. It approved a strategic response plan that includes emergency support for families and economic activities, including subsidised credit lines and non-repayable funds.
The measures will be financed by the National Emergency Fund and the Sovereign Emergency Fund, created in 2019 to respond to natural disasters and external shocks.
On Friday, a Portuguese Navy ship docked in São Vicente with 56 military personnel, equipment to remove rubble, a desalination plant for the hospital, drones to collect aerial images and teams of divers to support the population.
RS/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
