Lisbon opens metro stations overnight to protect homeless from heatwave

Three Lisbon metro stations will remain open overnight to provide cooler shelter for people experiencing homelessness as Portugal braces for an intense heatwave expected to push temperatures as high as 44ºC.

Lisbon City Council said the Oriente, Rossio and Santa Apolónia metro stations will stay open outside normal operating hours from today, offering “cooler areas during the night” for people sleeping rough.

The measure comes as the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) issued a red warning for the Lisbon district from Thursday, forecasting persistently high day- and night-time temperatures.

The red warning, the highest level issued by the weather agency, coincides with forecasts of maximum temperatures reaching 44ºC in some parts of Portugal and overnight lows of between 24ºC and 28ºC.

The council said it continues to monitor the weather in coordination with national authorities and will introduce additional measures if necessary.

Although authorities have not decided to close the Monsanto Forest Park, the city has already relocated this weekend’s Lisb-On music festival from Monsanto to Parque Eduardo VII because of the heightened wildfire risk.

Beyond the overnight metro openings, Lisbon said it has activated a range of measures through the Municipal Civil Protection Service, including heightened operational readiness by the Municipal Police and Sapadores Fire Brigade, as well as public information campaigns.

The municipality also highlighted its network of ‘climate refuges’ – including parks, gardens, libraries and museums – where residents can escape the heat during the hottest parts of the day.

Among them are Monsanto Forest Park, Campo Grande Garden, Príncipe Real Garden, Avenida da Liberdade, the MUDE – Museum of Design, Casa dos Bicos and several municipal libraries.

Just this week, the Portuguese Council for Health and the Environment defended that each municipality should have its own cooling centres.

Source: LUSA

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.