The storm hits, Portugal suspends classes across the country and halts the online summit.
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, November 11: In response to Hurricane Charles, which is about to make landfall, the Portuguese government announced a nationwide suspension of classes on November 11 and canceled the 2026 Internet Summit currently taking place in the country.
Storm "Charles" passed over the Portuguese island of Madeira on the 10th and is expected to land on the Portuguese mainland on the morning of the 11th, with wind speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour. Portugal has suspended non-essential public services and canceled all outdoor events as the storm is expected to trigger persistent heavy rains. Eight regions in Portugal, including the capital Lisbon, entered the highest red alert level.
Internet Summit 2026 is currently taking place in Lisbon. According to the summit website, the Portuguese government decided to cancel all summit activities on the 11th due to the possibility of flooding, damage to buildings and severe disruption to public transportation due to the storm. The first Internet Summit was held in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, in 2010. It moved from Dublin to Lisbon in 2016 and has now become one of the most important technology events in the world.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro warned on the 10th: "Do not underestimate the dangers and risks associated with extreme weather events." Portuguese Interior Minister Luis Neves also urged people not to go out.
In response to this storm, Portugal deployed 1,100 National Guard personnel and numerous emergency personnel, prioritizing areas prone to flooding and landslides.
From January 22 to February 16 this year, Portugal was hit by six consecutive storms, causing many deaths.