Tower Crane Collapse During Storm Kristin in Portugal

Meagan Wood
6 days ago
3 min read

30 Second Takeaway

A tower crane collapsed onto a passenger vehicle in the town of Leiria, Portugal, earlier this week as Storm Kristin brought extreme winds through central and northern parts of the country. Wind speeds in Leiria reportedly reached 178 kph before monitoring equipment was destroyed. While three fatalities were reported in the town during the storm, authorities have confirmed that none were linked to the crane collapse. No injuries have been reported as a result of the crane incident. Further details are pending as information continues to emerge.

Incident Overview

Leiria, Portugal

A tower crane collapsed in the town of Leiria, western Portugal, during severe weather conditions associated with Storm Kristin.

The incident occurred as the storm moved through central and northern Portugal, producing extreme wind speeds and widespread damage. In Leiria, recorded wind speeds reportedly reached 178 kph before weather monitoring equipment was destroyed.

The tower crane came down onto a passenger vehicle during the storm. Authorities have confirmed that no injuries or fatalities resulted from the crane collapse itself.

What Happened

As Storm Kristin intensified across the region:

Extreme winds impacted construction sites and infrastructure in Leiria
Wind speeds reportedly reached 178 kph before monitoring systems failed
A tower crane collapsed during the storm
The crane fell onto a passenger vehicle

Emergency services responded to multiple storm-related incidents across the town. While three people lost their lives in Leiria during the storm, authorities have confirmed that none of the fatalities were linked to the crane collapse.

What Is Known

Crane involved: Tower crane
Incident type: Weather-related structural collapse
Location: Leiria, western Portugal
Weather event: Storm Kristin
Reported wind speeds: Up to 178 kph prior to equipment failure
Crane-related injuries: None reported
Crane-related fatalities: None reported
Damage: Crane and passenger vehicle
Investigation status: Information gathering ongoing

Crane Hub Global has requested additional photographs and details from the scene to better understand the crane configuration and site conditions at the time of the collapse.

Why This Incident Was Possible

Tower cranes are particularly vulnerable to extreme wind events due to their height, exposed surface area, and reliance on correct storm preparation procedures.

Factors that commonly contribute to storm-related tower crane collapses include:

Failure to place cranes into weather-vane or free-slew mode
Delayed shutdown decisions despite escalating forecasts
Inadequate securing of cranes ahead of extreme weather
Underestimation of gust speeds compared to sustained wind limits
Rapid weather escalation exceeding site preparedness

When wind conditions exceed design assumptions or shutdown thresholds are delayed, structural stability can be compromised rapidly.

Industry Reminder

Severe weather does not arrive without warning.

Extreme wind events are forecastable hazards, and tower crane incidents during storms typically reflect decision-making failures rather than unexpected conditions.

The absence of injuries in this incident was due to circumstance, not margin.

Early shutdown, conservative planning, and strict adherence to manufacturer wind limits remain critical life-saving controls.

Editorial Note

Crane Hub Global reports on crane-related incidents to support industry learning and prevention. This article is based on publicly available information at the time of publication and may be updated as further details become available.