Levira, Portugal, found itself inundated with an astonishing 2.2 million liters of red wine in an unexpected and dramatic event that unfolded on Sunday.
The torrential flow originated from the Levira Distillery, situated within the Anadia region, where this vast quantity of red wine had been patiently aging in tanks, awaiting the moment of bottling. In a startling turn of events, two of these tanks, collectively holding nearly 600,000 gallons of wine, suffered catastrophic ruptures, resulting in the town of São Lorenzo de Bairro being swathed in a sea of crimson.
The sudden wine flood promptly triggered a critical environmental alert, as authorities expressed grave concerns regarding the potential health and safety hazards posed to the town’s 2,000 residents. Moreover, there were apprehensions that the deluge could potentially contaminate the Certima River, thereby endangering the region’s water supply. Responding with urgency, the Anadia Fire Department swiftly arrived at the scene and skillfully redirected the wine surge away from the river, channeling it into a nearby field. Subsequently, the distillery undertook the task of siphoning the spilled wine for treatment at a specialized facility.
While the immediate cause of the tank ruptures remains undisclosed, the distillery confirmed that no injuries resulted from the flooding incident. However, one local resident living in close proximity to the distillery had their basement inundated with grape juice, a situation for which the distillery assumed full responsibility.
In a responsible and swift response, the Levira Distillery issued a statement, stating, “We assume full responsibility for the costs associated with cleaning and repairing the damage, having teams ready to address the situation immediately.” They also emphasized their unwavering commitment to resolving the situation as expeditiously as possible.
