People bath in the thermal baths at Ponta da Ferraria near Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores archipelago, Portugal July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

LISBON, Sept 25 (Reuters) – Portugal’s Azores archipelago cancelled all tourist and recreational activities for 24 hours and shuttered schools and public services on Thursday, urging people to stay indoors ahead of the arrival of cyclone Gabrielle.

Meteorological agency IPMA placed the islands on red alert – the highest emergency level, used only for weather events carrying extreme risk.

The environment secretary of the Azores’ regional government, Alonso Miguel, told reporters any activities along the coastline and in riverside areas were prohibited for the next 24 hours.

The hurricane, packing winds of between 130 and 200 kilometres per hour (81-124 mph), was likely to hit seven of the archipelago’s nine islands in the Atlantic Ocean during Thursday night and produce sea swells that could reach 18 metres (59 feet), according to the IPMA.

The Azores, known for their lush volcanic landscape, rainy weather and free-grazing cows, are home to about 250,000 people.

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

Suggested Topics:

Read Next

Goldman Sachs’ outlook for mergers and acquisitions has become more optimistic, fueled by consolidation in various industry sectors and likely acceleration in private equity-backed deals, its President John Waldron said on Thursday.

Site Index

About Reuters

Stay Informed

Information you can trust

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world’s media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.

Read More