Portugal remains on high alert after Storm Leonardo caused widespread flooding in the south of the country. In Alcácer do Sal, nearly 200 people were evacuated on Wednesday, while the overflowing Sado River submerged the main avenue in water reaching the waist of rescue workers, despite sandbags placed in front of shops. Civil protection officials confirmed the death of a man in his sixties near Serpa after his vehicle was swept away by the floodwaters. Since Sunday, emergency services have dealt with more than 3,300 incidents across the country, ranging from flash floods and fallen trees to landslides. Given the scale of the situation, 3,000 military personnel and 42 boats have been deployed as reinforcements. Authorities warn that further deterioration is highly likely as early as this weekend, with another low-pressure system already forming. After several weeks of continuous rain, the saturated soils are no longer absorbing water, fueling fears of further flooding.
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