Archives: Situation Reports

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 4th March 2026

 

The Special Device to Fight Rural Fires (DECIR) 2026 was announced yesterday and strengthens the national response capacity in the critical period (July 1 to September 30). 15,149 operatives, 3,463 vehicles, 2,596 teams and 81 aircraft will be engaged, consolidating the structural reinforcement of the last decade. In 2016 the operatives in this phase stood at 7,475, vehicles 1601 and aircraft 47; thus representing a considerable increase.

The Permanent Intervention Teams grow to 770 teams and 3,864 elements, accompanied by an ongoing investment in operational training and qualification. These teams are usually the first to be deployed in rural fires

However, we note a report on Monday that more than a third of the 278 municipalities on the mainland have outdated emergency plans. According to data obtained by JN, there are more than 100 Municipal Civil Protection Emergency Plans (PMEPC) that should have already been revised, and about fifteen are not even included in the Emergency Planning Information System (SIPE) implemented by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC). With serious accidents and catastrophes, such as those resulting from the recent train of storms that hit the territory, being inevitable, experts argue that only with updated and trained plans is it possible to minimize the consequences of bad weather.

The 1st March was Civil Protection day and a time to remember the destructive power of earthquakes and be aware of the risk they pose in Portugal. On February 28, 1969 Portugal was affected by an earthquake which was felt throughout the country, northern Morocco and part of Spain. The magnitude of the earthquake was 7.3 on the Richter scale. However it was later recalculated at Mag 7.9 making it the largest earthquake recorded in Portugal since the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The south, namely the Algarve, and the Lisbon region were the areas most affected by earthquake, which was also felt in Spain and Morocco. Thirteen people died, two as a direct result of the quake and 11 indirectly and several dozen were injured.

Civil Protection reminds every one of the importance of knowing self-protection measures: know how to act during an earthquake (DROP, COVER, HOLD); identify safe places at home and in the workplace; prepare an emergency kit and follow the official information.

Turn to dust. Due to storm Regina an air mass originating from the deserts of North Africa, carrying suspended dust, is crossing mainland Portugal between March 3rd and 5th, 2026. Poor air quality is being experienced across parts of the mainland. Mark Parrington, senior scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) stated that “a large-scale aerosol outflow into the North Atlantic is not uncommon at this time of year, with seasonal biomass burning in Equatorial Africa typically peaking between January and March.

Therefore, and for as long as this phenomenon persists, the Directorate-General of Health recommends that the general population should avoid prolonged exertion, limit outdoor physical activity, and avoid exposure to risk factors such as tobacco smoke and contact with irritants.

The following groups of citizens, due to their greater vulnerability to the effects of this phenomenon, in addition to complying with the recommendations for the general population, should, whenever feasible, remain inside buildings and, preferably, with the windows closed: children; the elderly; patients with chronic respiratory problems, particularly asthma; patients with cardiovascular disease. Patients with chronic conditions should continue with their current medical treatments.

Our team at Safe Communities wishes you a safe week ahead.

 

News

Environment Minister considers intervention on cliffs “super urgent” after storms.

The Algarve has been identified as the region with the most problems, including fissures in the iconic rock formation at Peneco beach. The government strategy is divided into three areas: cliff safety, beach restoration, and medium-term structural projects, with the aim of completing urgent works before the bathing season.

The Minister of the Environment stated on Tuesday in Albufeira that stabilizing the cliffs is a “super urgent” priority for the Government to ensure coastal safety, following the worsening erosion caused by recent storms.

“The intervention on the cliffs is one of the ‘necessary and extremely urgent projects to guarantee the safety of those who visit the beaches, this being the most urgent part’,” Maria da Graça Carvalho told journalists on the sidelines of a visit to beaches in the municipality of Albufeira, in the district of Faro.

The minister visited Maria Luísa and Peneco beaches in Albufeira to assess the damage caused by the storms that affected mainland Portugal between the end of January and the first weeks of February, revealing that the damage extends from Moledo, in the municipality of Caminha, district of Viana do Castelo, to Vila Real de Santo António, in the district of Faro.

However, he added, the Algarve is the region where “there are more problems with the cliffs and the most complicated cases,” resulting from the sea storms, rain, and strong winds that have plagued the country in recent weeks.

Maria da Graça Carvalho revealed that the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is concluding an inspection of the entire coastline, with the conclusions and necessary projects to be presented “in eight days” by the APA in Porto.

During the visit, the minister listened to the concerns of the Mayor of Albufeira, Rui Cristina, regarding the intervention “to save the rock formation on the beach that gives its name to Peneco beach, where fissures have been detected.”

According to the mayor, the rock “represents a danger and could collapse at any moment ,” and a safety perimeter has been established to prevent people from approaching.

“It’s something very symbolic, an emblematic rock that represents Albufeira. We will do everything to preserve it,” he assured, referring, however, to the APA (Portuguese Environment Agency) and the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC) “a technical or constructive solution to safeguard it in the best way.”

The minister will ask for help from LNEC.

The Minister of the Environment indicated that she will ask the LNEC (National Laboratory for Civil Engineering) for help in “supporting a decision” on what to do regarding the rock formation, reinforcing that these complex interventions aim to “guarantee the safety” of those who visit the beaches.

Maria da Graça Carvalho also mentioned that the Ministry of the Environment’s strategy is divided into three areas of intervention on the coastline, with different degrees of urgency: cliff safety, beach restoration through sand replenishment, and medium-term projects that require environmental impact studies.

Short-term projects include those related to preparing for the bathing season, such as stabilizing cliffs, small and medium-sized beach replenishment with sand, and repairing walkways.

“The goal is for these works to be completed before the start of the bathing season, using quick and flexible financing,” the official added.

The structural projects foresee larger-scale interventions, which require environmental impact studies, and are expected to be ready only for the bathing season next year.

“We have to do it, and it has to be done well,” the minister reiterated, noting that although the Algarve presents the most complicated problems regarding the cliffs, the APA’s monitoring “is continuous and systematic throughout the national territory.”

According to the minister, work to reinforce the sand on some of the “most emblematic beaches in the country” should begin between May and the beginning of June.

 

25 years since the Entre-os-Rios tragedy: a reflection on the “ambiguous grief” of the families of 36 victims.

Sandra Torres, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Porto, reflects on the difficulties of the grieving process in tragedies such as the collapse of the Entre-os-Rios Bridge in which the bodies of 36 victims were never found.

The fact that only 23 bodies have been recovered out of the 59 victims of the Hintze Ribeiro bridge collapse tragedy in Entre-os-Rios 25 years ago has led many family members to experience “ambiguous grief,” says an expert on the subject.

“In psychology, this type of grief, in which people are physically absent but, fundamentally, psychologically present, is called ambiguous grief. This is precisely to, in some way, expose the difficulty in balancing a grieving process alongside a cycle of maintaining hope that often occurs in these processes. One of the great difficulties associated with this type of grief, I would say, is the great absence of farewell,” Sandra Torres explains to Lusa.

A lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto (FPCEUP), responsible for several curricular units on grief, reflects on the 36 victims who did not have a funeral because their bodies were not found, following the tragedy of March 4, 2001, in which 59 people died when the fourth pillar of the Hintze Ribeiro bridge collapsed.

The importance of saying goodbye.

“Funerals often serve this function. Even if they have been symbolically performed, there is no possibility for people to have gone through a farewell process that, in their minds, only happens when the body is actually present. And therefore, however much there may have been public acknowledgment of this loss, this more physical farewell can never be carried out by these people. And this is what, in a way, brings about this situation of ambiguity that often prevents the acceptance and emotional reorganization that is required in a grieving process,” he explains.

For some, this ambiguity manifests itself with “persistent rumination” of the process, for others with “continuous mental searching,” with “what ifs, what ifs,” a ‘pain’ that comes from balancing hope and rationality, an expressive pain that can lead to “other emotions that are often strong, intense, and difficult, in which the most predominant tend to be guilt and/or anger.”

“From the point of view of anger, it can often be directed towards others. When we look at blame, we look more at an internal dimension, when we look at anger we often look at it from an external direction, and here it can be directed towards the political and administrative responsibilities that existed in the maintenance of the infrastructure, or even the fact that the authorities did not do everything they could to find the bodies…”, she exemplifies, as “possible thoughts” associated with it.

The consequence ends up being “making the whole adjustment process more difficult,” which in turn causes “grief to remain very intense over the years ,” with the weight of society potentially making people feel “isolated and misunderstood,” as people are expected to move on.

“By hindering the entire adjustment process, grief remains very intense over the years. (…) And often there are some processes here that may not be conscious, even in the face of society: ‘if I go through this grieving process, I will be saying that in some way I have accepted this, I have resigned myself, and deep down what I want is to keep the person alive’,” adds the specialist.

Each person’s reactions “can be very diverse.”

Since grief is a “deeply individual” process, each person’s reactions “can be very diverse,” and in circumstances like the tragedy in Entre-os-Rios, “with all this media attention involved,” there are people for whom the memory brings back old wounds, but for others it is a sign of homage, “a way of keeping alive the people who were lost.”

“Maintaining a connection with the person who was lost today is seen as an adaptive process, and this can manifest itself either in valuing memories, in talking to people in thought, or in experiences that honour their legacy. Therefore, these bonds can provide comfort and meaning, even if in many circumstances this means remembering and reliving the pain of the loss that happened 25 years ago,” she points out.

This adjustment to a new life, even more than two decades later, must be understood as a reconstruction “of the meaning of and the relationship with the person who was lost.”

“We often say that people don’t abandon the past, they change their relationship with it; that’s what’s intended in a grieving process. But often this is what people feel: ‘If I don’t show that I continue to suffer, if I don’t show that I continue to deprive myself of everything that is joyful, I have no way of showing others that this person continues to be very important to me,'” says Sandra Torres.

Social support, especially in the case of a “violent and traumatic loss, clearly unexpected,” takes on a highly relevant role in these processes, as does the understanding that diversity is the touchstone for breaking a “myth that is created in society: grief is not a linear process,” and it is not a rule that it becomes easier with the passing of years.

“What’s important is that these moments focused on loss also alternate with moments when people begin to take on tasks, often those that the missing person used to do, adjust to new social roles and routines, manage to resolve practical day-to-day issues, and even, in some way, reassess their own identity and their own sense of purpose in life. And it is in this alternation and between these moments that people move forward,” advises Sandra Torres.

“Grief is simply love that has nowhere to go,” she adds.

 

 

 

Safety and Security Report Wednesday 19^th February 2026

 

Good afternoon everyone. Firstly we wish everyone, in particular our Chinese followers in Mandarin: “Xīnnián hǎo” (新年好), or in Cantonese: “Gong hei fat choy” (恭喜发财). I am of course referring to Happy Lunar New Year.  This year Lunar New Year 2026 fell on Tuesday 17th, and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on March 3rd.  Traditionally it’s a time to honour ancestors and deities, with family reunions and street parades, and fireworks to drive off evil spirits.

This year Lunar New Year Day coincided with the Carnivals in Portugal. Despite recent weather conditions leading to the postponement or cancellation of some celebrations in certain locations, the festivities continue to enliven many Portuguese cities with festive parades, music, culture, and lots of colour. Certainly in the Algarve the weather was fine for the events, one of the largest being in Loulé on, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The Monday event was attended by around 15,000 people! For those who attended we hope you enjoyed yourselves.

Turning to the aftermath of the storms. We are now in the recovery phase of a series of storms that have impacted the Portuguese mainland. A series which has resulted in severe damage to property, infrastructure, business and not the least 16 deaths. But what will be the lessons learned from this, one example the fact that there are still after nearly 3 weeks 9,000 people without electricity!

With a significant portion of the scientific community warning that extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent and more intense, the question arises: does it make sense to rebuild exactly as before? Or are we rebuilding infrastructure for a climate that has already changed? Perhaps that is why the idea of ​​developing an extensive network of underground cables gained traction in the days following the storm, almost as an intuitive response to the image of fallen towers.

But for the former president of Endesa, there is one factor that immediately hinders the momentum. “The underground electrical network is much more expensive than the overhead electrical network,” he points out, emphasizing that this cost “has to be paid in the consumers’ bills. It’s what we call contracted power, therefore, the fixed part of the cost that we have on the electricity bill, and therefore there is this price issue, which is not negligible; on the contrary, it is quite important and burdensome.”

Burying the network multiplies the installation cost by “10 to 15 times,” emphasizes also João Peças Lopes, professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto and associate director of INESC TEC, also noting that the issues are not limited to costs/price.

Furthermore, it’s important to remember that an underground cable is not simply a buried overhead power line. “An underground cable has to pass through existing land-based communication routes, meaning it runs under roads, highways, streets, paths, etc because it can’t go under houses or agricultural/forest fields. Therefore, it has to follow a longer route, and the entire construction process is much more arduous.”

The storm, he says, showed precisely that: there are limits to what money/engeneering can solve. “There are things where, whether for technical and engineering reasons, or for economic reasons, there really isn’t an easy solution.

Yesterday a new landslide occurred near the cliff in Santo António da Caparica burying three houses. According to authorities, the houses were already uninhabited, as the occupants had earlier been evacuated, but the accident forced the evacuation of another 30 people from nearby homes for their safety. On Monday, the mayor of Almada, Inês de Medeiros, admitted that many of the people who had to leave their homes in the municipality due to the landslide, following the bad weather, will not be able to return to their houses.

The persistence of periods of heavy rain in recent days has been causing landslides in several parts of the country. This can endanger people, homes and highways. To avoid the possibility of casualties, it is important to know the warning signs such as: new cracks in walls, roads or grounds; leaning walls or cracks; trees especially large one at risk of falling; rushing water coming out of the ground or the slope; roads with inundations or cracks and earth moving with loose rocks. If the situation is urgent call 112.

Our team at Safe Communities Portugal widh you a safe and happy week ahead

News

This Tuesday, around 9,000 E-Redes customers remain without electricity following Storm Kristin.

This is the most recent report from E-Redes. The previous report, from Monday, identified 11,000 customers without power.

In a statement, the company reinforces the warning that if the public identifies fallen or damaged electrical infrastructure, they should stay away and report the situation to E-Redes (800 506 506 or balcaodigital.e-redes.pt).

The storms that battered the country claimed 16 lives and also left hundreds injured and displaced.

The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, falling trees and structures, road closures, school and transport service disruptions, and power, water and communications outages, floods and inundations are the main material consequences of the storm.

The Central, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, and Alentejo regions were the most affected.

The state of emergency that encompassed the 68 most affected municipalities ended on Sunday.

 

 

Portugal safety and security report Wednesday 21^st January 2025

 

Good afternoon. It will be a markedly wintry week, growing in intensity throughout the next few days. It started calmly on Monday, just some precipitation in the northwest, from Tuesday and specially from Wednesday it starts a pattern of low pressure systems approaching and with an impact that will be more pronounced and direct on mainland Portugal.

Storm Ingrid will bring very adverse weather conditions to the continent. The weather will worsen in the coming days in mainland Portugal, with falling temperatures, rain, strong winds and rough seas. Starting Thursday, a more severe depression may form, which will predictably be named ‘Ingrid’. It is expected to be a major storm with four risk factors that should be taken into account: stormy sea conditions, with waves up to 10 meters, especially between Figueira da Foz and Sines; winds with gusts up to 90 km/h and heavy rain and snowfall, with a very significant accumulation factor in some locations above 700 meters altitude. So be prepared with further IPMA weather warnings and ANEPC preventive measures expected over to be announced in the coming days.

This week the news has been dominated by the fatal railway accident on Sunday, Jan 18, involving the Iryo train 6189, traveling from Málaga to Atocha (Madrid) with 317 passengers on board, which derailed near Adamuz (Córdoba) and crossed onto the adjacent track. This caused the derailment of another train, the Alvia 2384, traveling in the opposite direction at that precise moment, from Madrid to Huelva with about 100 passengers. At the time of the collision, according to official sources, the Alvia was traveling at a speed of 200 km/h.

The scale of this tragedy is underscored by the fact that, after searching through the train wreckage, authorities are still unable to provide a definitive death toll. At least one more uncertainty remains: the fate of passengers on two train cars embedded in an embankment next to the tracks. The technical difficulties in extracting the two wrecked cars are immense, according to officials from both the central government and the Andalusian regional government. “Now, with the ongoing work and the heavy machinery, we hope that whatever remains can be extracted and transported soon to the Forensic Institute,” they added, stating that the work would continue “throughout the night.”

Thirty-nine people remain hospitalized in various Andalusian hospitals: 35 adults and four children. Of these, 13 patients are in intensive care, all adults. The Integrated Data Center (CID), the technical body that integrates forensic doctors and technicians with state security forces, has received 43 missing persons reports filed with the Guardia Civil headquarters in Huelva, Córdoba, Málaga, Seville, and Madrid.

Such rail accidents are relatively rare, but with trains travelling at very high speeds the impact in terms of loss of life can be considerable. In Portugal the ANEPC regularly organises railway accident exercises to test the response by the emergency entities involved.

Unfortunately the elderly are sometimes targeted by criminals, in this particular case when using ATM machine. Recently the GNR Aveiro Territorial Command, arrested a 58-year-old man for robbery at ATM machines in the municipality of Aveiro. As part of an investigation into the crimes of robbery and theft, the GNR officers determined that the suspect approached particularly vulnerable victims, aged between 65 and 83, near ATM machines, stealing money from them, sometimes resorting to the use of force.

During the police investigation, two searches were carried out, one at a residence and the other in a vehicle, which resulted in the recovery of €778 in cash. It is crucial to reinforce prevention and attention to this type of situation. Advice is not to trust strangers who approach or try to start a conversation while using the ATM; keep your distance from others while using the ATM, and if you suspect anything, move away immediately and seek help.

We wish you a safe week ahead.

News

More than 43,000 elderly people living alone have been identified by the GNR (National Republican Guard).

After Guarda (5,852 elderly people) and Vila Real (5,167), the districts where the most elderly people were identified were Bragança (4,191), Faro (3,414), Viseu (3,304), Beja (2,749), Évora (2,381) and Castelo Branco (2,316).

More than 43,000 elderly people living alone or in vulnerable situations have been identified this year by the GNR (National Republican Guard), with the districts of Guarda and Vila Real being those where the most cases were detected, the corporation reported.

In a statement regarding the Senior Census 2025 operation, which took place between October 1st and November 16th, the GNR (National Republican Guard) indicated that during the initiative it carried out several actions of direct contact with these people to alert them to the need to adopt safety behaviors, minimizing the risk of becoming victims of crime.

After Guarda (5,852 elderly people) and Vila Real (5,167), the districts where the most elderly people were identified were Bragança (4,191), Faro (3,414), Viseu (3,304), Beja (2,749), Évora (2,381) and Castelo Branco (2,316).

In the 2025 edition of the Senior Census operation, the GNR (National Republican Guard) carried out a series of classroom and door-to-door actions, reaching a total of 35,143 senior citizens.

Hiking and Hypothermia – Prevention Signs and Treatment

A group of six hikers were successfully rescued on Saturday, January 17, in the Estrela da Estrela after being unable to complete a trail due to heavy snowfall. All members of the group were safely rescued and in good health, with no hospital referral being required.

According to IPMA the municipality of Seia where they were hiking experienced temperatures ranging from minus -0.5 to a maximum of 3.4C and maximum winds of 16 km/h that day.

The ANEPC reminds people of the need for proper mountain activity planning, following safety guidelines, and checking weather conditions and trail conditions, especially in areas with increased natural risks.

Such situations can result in Hypothermia. Knowing what it is, how to recognise the signs, prevention and treatment are therefore vitally important.

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

Hypothermia can happen when a person is exposed to very cold temperature for a long period of time. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature.

Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it’s happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.

While hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 4.5°C) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

SIGNS – Includes: shivering, exhaustion or feeling very tired, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss slurred speech and drowsiness

TREATMENT – Hypothermia is a medical emergency. If you notice any of the above signs, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 35° C, get medical attention immediately! If you are not able to get medical help right away, try to warm the person up.

• Get the person into a warm room or shelter.
• Remove any wet clothing the person is wearing.
• Warm the centre of the person’s body—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. You can also use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
• Warm drinks can help increase body temperature, but do not give alcoholic drinks. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.
• After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrap their body, including their head and neck, in a warm blanket.
• Get the person proper medical attention as soon as possible

PREVENTION – To reduce your risk of hypothermia while hiking, you should dress warmly, stay hydrated, and have extra supplies including the following: Wear layers, hat and gloves; cover your skin, including your scalp; wear wool or synthetic blends, which retain warmth even when damp, avoid cotton, which dries slowly and saps body heat; stay hydrated; bring plenty of water and high-energy snacks; avoid alcohol and minimize caffeine; have extra supplies; carry a daypack with extra supplies, such as thermal blankets and dry clothing.

Plan ahead, check weather conditions (is it safe to go?), travel in groups or with a partner and inform someone of your plans and expected return time.

 

 

 

 

Portugal Safe and Security Report Thursday 8^th January 2026

 

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to our first weekly report of 2026.

In 2026, several measures adopted by the Government will come into effect, aligned with clear priorities in valuing work, social cohesion, and modernizing the State. We have selected the following which are relevant to our remit: 1. Control of illegal immigration and the integration of legal immigrants are strengthened within the framework of the structural reform of immigration policy; 2. The new rules for admission to the PSP (Public Security Police) come into effect, adjusting recruitment criteria to current needs, in order to strengthen public security; 3. Fifty infrastructure improvements for the PSP (Public Security Police) and GNR (National Republican Guard) have been completed, aimed at improving working conditions for officers and military personnel and strengthening the connection between security forces and the public; 4. The manufacture, modification, transport, purchase, possession, or operation of illegal speedboats is criminalized, and more effective sanctions and new penalties are created for criminals to address the growing sophistication of criminal networks, particularly those involved in drug and human trafficking; 5. The “Active Forest” program continues with the launch of new calls for proposals to support the active management and maintenance of forest areas, particularly on smallholdings, promoting resilience, biodiversity and forest enhancement, with a budget of 10 million euros.

An intense cold wave and snowfall is affecting several European countries, causing the closure of hundreds of schools, flight cancellations, disruption of public transport, and road accidents. France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, and Bosnia-Herzegovina are registering record low temperatures. Several European countries are being affected by cold weather including Portugal where temperatures dropped to below zero at 40 IPMA on-line weather stations at 0700 hrs yesterday morning with the lowest being minus -6.5C.

Unfortunately at the start of the year there were two shooting incidents, one in Lisbon and the other in Silves in the Algarve. On Saturday night, two hooded men fired dozens of shots at the facade of a house in Silves, in the Algarve, while a family with two minors was inside. The shooters have not yet been identified, and it is suspected that they used an automatic military weapon.  They arrived shortly before midnight, their faces covered, and fired dozens of shots at the facade of a house. The shots were captured by the surveillance camera of the house next door. This is being investigated by the Judicial Police.

The second incident refers to images circulating on social media of a group firing automatic and semi-automatic weapons during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Alfredo Bensaúde neighbourhood, Olivais, Lisbon. Carlos Moedas Mayor of Lisbon, stated this Monday that situations like this, are “unacceptable”.  The Mayor was speaking after a restricted meeting of the Municipal Security Council, attended only by officers from the Municipal Police and the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP (Public Security Police), which also served to assess security in the capital. The mayor added that the PSP (Public Security Police) will be “more present and with more special crime prevention operations,” which will be “constantly and permanently increased” in the “coming weeks and months.” The mayor has called for an extra 500 PSP agents for Lisbon.

We are very concerned about what has happened particularly the availability of apparent military calibre weapons being used on the streets in Lisbon and Silves.

Given recent international developments, we support Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced yesterday (6th January 2025) that Portugal, together with its European partners, subscribes to the following declaration on Greenland: “Security in the Arctic remains a fundamental priority for Europe and is crucial for international and transatlantic security. NATO has made it clear that the Arctic region is a priority, and European Allies are strengthening their presence, activities, and investments to maintain Arctic security and deter adversaries. Greenland belongs to its people. It is up to Denmark and Greenland, and only to them, to decide on matters relating to Denmark and Greenland.”

We wish all our readers a Very Happy and Safe New Year

 

News

Lisbon Airport reinforced with 24 GNR (National Republican Guard) officers to reduce queues at arrivals.

Lisbon airport had already been reinforced with 80 PSP officers during the Christmas and New Year period due to long waiting times.

Lisbon airport is being reinforced this Tuesday with 24 members of the National Republican Guard (GNR), a measure by the Government to reduce waiting times in the arrivals area.

According to GNR spokesperson Carlos Canatário, who spoke to Lusa news agency, the 24 officers will work in “flexible shifts,” composed of teams of 10 members and a supervisor, and will be stationed in the arrivals area to check documentation.

The military personnel now reinforcing Lisbon airport have certified training in border control and received “purely administrative” training on Friday and Monday from the PSP (Public Security Police), the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), and ANA (Aeroportos de Portugal).

For now, the GNR (National Republican Guard) added, it is unknown how long the military personnel will remain at Humberto Delgado Airport.

In addition to this measure to reduce queues, the Government has decided to suspend the European border control system for non-EU citizens, known as the European Union Entry/Exit System (EES), for three months at Lisbon airport, with the European Commission already stating that it will request “more details” from Portugal regarding this interruption.

Lisbon airport had already been reinforced with 80 PSP officers during the Christmas and New Year period due to long waiting times.

The new European border control system for non-EU citizens came into operation on October 12 in Portugal and the rest of the Schengen Area, and since then waiting times have worsened, especially at Lisbon airport, with passengers sometimes having to wait for several hours.

 

The bar that caught fire in Switzerland had not been inspected since 2020.

The mayor of Crans-Montana discovered “a failure to carry out periodic inspections” at the site between 2020 and 2025.

The bar at a ski resort in Crans-Mointanana, Switzerland, which caught fire during a New Year’s Eve party, killing 40 people, had not been inspected since 2020.

In a press conference this Tuesday, the mayor of Crans-Montana, Nicolas Feraud, said he “deeply regrets” discovering “a failure in carrying out periodic inspections” at the site between 2020 and 2025.

The last inspection report for Le Constellation, from 2019, did not mention any problems. The soundproof foam lining the bar ceiling was not considered a risk.

As a preventative measure to avoid this type of accident, ‘rocket’ candles have been banned in enclosed spaces, the mayor announced.

According to initial findings of the investigation, the fire that started on the ceiling of the room was likely ignited by sparks from these candles, which were placed in champagne bottles.

Authorities have closed another establishment run by the managers of Le Constellation, who, according to the Valais regional prosecutor, are suspected of involuntary manslaughter, involuntary bodily harm, and arson.

The French couple told the newspaper La Tribune de Genève that the establishment had been inspected three times in ten years and that “everything was in compliance with the regulations.”

 

 

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report New Year’s Eve Wednesday 31^st December 2025.

 

Good morning. Firstly we hope that you had a very happy and restful Christmas albeit the temperatures were rather on the cold side. But – more about the weather later.

After peak waiting times of up to seven hours at border control during the New Year’s week, the Government decided to suspend the application of the European border control system for non-EU citizens at Lisbon airport for three months. The decision includes the immediate reinforcement of security at Humberto Delgado Airport with GNR officers.

Lisbon Airport handles more than 70 % of the nation’s long-haul flights, and passenger numbers are forecast to jump 12 % over last December. Unlike previous years, officers must now capture and upload fingerprints, facial scans, passport data and a digital time-stamp for every non-EU passenger. Each step adds precious seconds; multiply by a full wide-body arrival and you get a two-hour bottleneck before breakfast.

Experts doubt a wholesale return to ink stamps will happen. Manual processing is slower, less secure and undermines the €1.3 B that EU states have invested in the system. Cyber-security advisers also warn that once a country reverts, synchronising the old and new databases becomes a nightmare. The likelier scenario, say union leaders, is a hybrid model during peaks: biometric gates for repeat visitors whose data are already on file, and human officers for first-timers

Portugal is not alone. France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany and even Iceland have reported wait-time spikes of up to 70 % since the EES went live on 12 October. Yet Lisbon’s single-runway layout and tight terminal footprint leave it less capable of absorbing snags. ACI Europe has already warned of “chaos” if the system stumbles during the twin peaks of 24–26 December which it has. The suspension of the system is allowed under what is known as the EES “kill switch” – a Commission-approved waiver that lets border guards revert to old-school passport stamps if waiting times top an unspecified red line.

On the roads this New Year’s Eve – The Christmas operation carried out by the PSP (Public Security Police) and GNR (National Republican Guard) recorded 15 fatalities and 1,444 injuries, 89 of which were serious, following 4,847 road accidents that occurred between December 18 and 26. Four less fatalities than last year but still far too many. In total, there are records of “around 300 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol. According to the GNR, the numbers are worrying [for the size of the country], but they are still lower than last year

Police will continue to be out and about to ensure drivers reach their destination safely so, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE – This New Year, the focus is clear: alcohol and driving do not mix. Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination – so no need to rush. GNR Advice is: if you are visiting festivals in cities such as Lisbon and Porto, note that there may be parking and road restrictions. Research beforehand and opt for public transport, taxi, UBER etc. Before starting the trip, check the condition of the vehicle, first of all, all your documentation. If you have consumed alcoholic beverages, do not drive, if you have any doubts, do not drive, do not use your mobile phone and always use your seatbelt. If you are visiting festivals in cities such as Lisbon and Porto, note that there may be parking and road restrictions. Research beforehand and opt for public transport, taxi, UBER etc. Before starting the trip, check the condition of the vehicle, first of all, all your documentation. Finally if you have consumed alcoholic beverages, do not drive, if you have any doubts, do not drive, do not use your mobile phone and always use your seatbelt.

Lastly turning to the New Year weather covering the festive period. STORM FRANCIS – is the name given by IPMA (Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere) to a low pressure system that, at 00UTC on January 1st, is forecasted to be centred north of the western group of the Azores archipelago, approximately at 39°N and 25°W, gradually deepening and moving east/southeast. Storm FRANCIS has associated fronts that will bring precipitation on January 1st and wind, sometimes strong and gusty, along the mainland coast and in the highlands. Temperatures should rise on this day, especially the minimum temperature, although still between 0 and -3°C in many inland locations in the North and Central regions.

There are many members of the emergency services, such as GNR, PSP, Civil Protection, Bombeiros and those in the health services who will be work overnight on New Year’s Eve away from their families. We thank them for all their amazing work in keeping us safe.

Our team at Safe Communities wish you a Safe and Very Happy New Year.

 

News

Flu vaccination campaign nears target of 2.5 million vaccinated

Another 14,066 people were vaccinated against the flu last week, bringing the total number immunized since the start of the campaign to 2,492,594, almost reaching the target set by the DGS (Directorate-General of Health) of around 2.5 million, according to data released today.

According to the latest report from the Seasonal Response in Health Surveillance and Monitoring of the Directorate-General of Health (DGS), relating to the week of December 15-21, there was a total increase in hospital emergency room visits (124,237, +1.9% compared to the previous week) and an increase in the proportion of emergency room visits due to acute respiratory infection (9.1%, +0.2 percentage points).

An increase was also observed in the proportion of emergency room visits due to flu-like symptoms (4.93%, +0.08 percentage points).

Health authorities have reinforced their appeal for vaccination due to the increase in acute respiratory infections and cases of influenza, which have led to a surge in demand for emergency services, the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), and the National Health Service 24-hour helpline.

Data published in the DGS seasonal vaccination report indicate that influenza vaccination coverage in people over 85 years of age is at 86.74%, in the 80-84 age group it is at 77.88%, in the 70-79 age group it is at 74.21%, and in those over 65 years of age it is at 71.94%.

The main novelty of the 2025/2026 Seasonal Vaccination Campaign was the expansion of seasonal vaccination to all children aged 6 to 23 months, regardless of whether they are healthy or belong to risk groups.

Since the start of the seasonal vaccination campaign on September 23, 58,009 children aged between six and 23 months have been immunized, representing a vaccination coverage of 44.69%.

COVID-19 vaccination coverage is lower than that for influenza, reaching 59.06% in those over 85 years old, 47.74% among those aged 80 to 84, 42.83% among those aged 70 to 79, and 42.86% among those over 65.

The latest report from the Seasonal Response in Health Surveillance and Monitoring, relating to the week of December 15-21, 2025, shows that Portugal registers “an epidemic of influenza activity with an increasing trend”.

This week, there was an increase in the proportion of hospital emergency room visits for influenza cases in children under one year old (4.6%, +0.2 pp compared to the previous week) and in people aged 65 or older (21.5%; +1.5 percentage points compared to the previous week).

There was also an increase in the seven-day moving average of ward bed occupancy for all causes (80.9%) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed occupancy for all causes (72.1%)

The proportion of patients diagnosed with influenza admitted to ICUs, as reported by the Hospital Network for Clinical and Laboratory Surveillance in ICUs, decreased to 9%.

According to the DGS (Directorate-General of Health), overall mortality was higher than expected for this time of year, with excess mortality observed in the North and Central regions and in the age groups of 75 to 84 years and 85 years and over, respectively

 

Scheduled power outages on Sunday in areas of Greater Lisbon.

On the first Sunday of the year, some locations in three municipalities in the Lisbon region will be temporarily without electricity between 5:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The scheduled interruptions will affect specific parishes to allow for manoeuvres, connections, repairs, and maintenance of the electrical infrastructure.

Next Sunday, January 4th, some areas in the municipalities of Cascais, Loures, and Odivelas will be temporarily without electricity due to maintenance work, according to E-Redes .

The power outages, which will be “limited and specific” will occur in the following locations:

Parish of the Union of Parishes of Cascais and Estoril 5:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Alameda Duquesa De Palmela, Lugar Praia Duquesa, Paredão Leste, Passeio Marítimo

Parish of the Union of Parishes of Camarate, Unhos and Apelação 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Azinhaga Das Mós, Azinhaga Dos Cucos, Estrada Militar – Bairro Fonte Da Pipa, Fontainhas, Rua 31 De Outubro, Rua A, Rua Aristides De Sousa Mendes, Rua B Pt Fugido, Rua B Vl Cristina, Rua B Vl Lopes, Rua Das Fontaínhas, Rua Do Casal Dos Cucos, Rua Dos Sacrifícios, Rua José Capítulo, Rua Principal, Rua Vl Martins, Rua Vl Rodrigues, Vila Teles

Parish of the Union of Parishes of Póvoa de Santo Adrião and Olival Basto 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Cassapia Neighbourhood , Quinta dos Cucos Neighbourhood, Roldão Square, Quinta dos Cucos, Quinta dos Cucos , Rua 1 Vivenda JNP , Rua 1, Rua 1º de Maio – Cassapia Neighborhood , Rua 20 de Abril, Rua 3, Cassapia Street, Rua da Escola, Rua da Esperança, Main Street, Rua Pedro Nunes

“Always in a planned and controlled manner,” the work carried out by E-Redes “occurs when all available power supply alternatives are exhausted, in order to ensure that the impact on customers is as minimal as possible,” notes the electricity distribution network operator.