The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 28th June 2023
by Mike Evans
Good day to you all. We start this report by reiterating the advice we have been giving out on our facebook page with regards to the heatwave and how important it is to stay hydrated whether you are active outside or inside your houses. The same advice is for any pets you may have as this weather can quickly cause dehydration in many of our pets. Our website has a number of hints on how best to keep cool and you can view at this link. https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/find-information/environment-and-weather/sun-and-temperature-extremes/?fbclid=IwAR2Q_RQ1G5xULYEEoQdC6t7UHySaEzbDyfIf71CsqF_LF7HhXtzcXOtIeVM
With the hot dry weather and a prevailing wind the chances of rural fires are very high, and a number of areas in the Algarve have been placed on the Red Alert, so again please make sure that if you see smoke or flames call 112. Don’t wait for someone else to do it.
In addition we now have the Sahara Dust to contend with as well as some areas seeing the fallout from the big fires in Canada so if you have family who have poor lung capacity then make sure they are well prepared with masks or inhalers.
Now let’s have a look at some of the stories which have been making the news in the Algarve in the past week.
Man Dies After Falling Into the Sea in Olhao
A 51-year-old man died on the afternoon of Monday, June 26, after falling into difficulty in the water, in front of the Municipal Market of Olhão, announced the National Maritime Authority.
The alert was given at 17:34 by the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center and elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Olhão and a vessel from the Lifeguard Station of Olhão were activated for the location.
When the security and emergency forces arrived at the scene, the victim had already been pulled out of the water by a member of the public who was in the area and was assisted by the Olhão Municipal Firefighters and the Emergency and Resuscitation Medical Vehicle, who carried out resuscitation manoeuvres .Since it was not possible to reverse the situation, death was declared on the spot by the doctor and the body was later transported to the Medical-Legal Office in Faro, after contact with the Public Ministry.
The Olhão Maritime Police Local Command took care of the occurrence.
Man Dies in Collision Between Car and Train near Olhao
A man aged around 80 died on Friday, June 23, after a collision between a light vehicle and a train in Fuseta , in the municipality of Olhão , said a Civil Protection source.
Train circulation on the Algarve Line was still cut off at 21:45 due to the accident.
The alert for the incident was given at 20:00 and resulted in the death of the driver of the light vehicle, a man aged around 80, said a source from the Algarve Sub-regional Command.On site were elements of firefighters from Olhão, INEM, GNR and Infrastructures of Portugal, a total of 14 operational, supported by six vehicles.
Man Arrested In Loule on Suspicion of Murder of his Wife
A man was detained for killing his wife at home in Loulé , having stayed with the corpse all night until he turned himself in to the authorities, the day after the crime, informed the Judiciary Police ( PJ ).
In a statement, the PJ adds that the 34-year-old man attacked the 29-year-old woman with a bladed weapon on Tuesday, June 20, causing injuries “the severity of which determined her death, which occurred inside the house”.
After having remained with the corpse all night, the aggressor went the next day to the GNR post to report the situation, after which he was detained by the PJ on suspicion of aggravated homicide. “The investigation carried out allowed the collection of relevant evidence, on the circumstances in which the crime occurred, as well as the formalisation of the arrest of the presumed author”, reads in the note.
The detainee will now be present at the Judicial interrogation for the application of coercive measures, the investigation being directed by the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) of Loulé.
Two Stowaways Arrested aboard a Merchant Ship off the Algarve Coast
Two undocumented people, who clandestinely entered Turkey aboard the merchant ship “Vestwind”, flying the Portuguese flag, were arrested off the coast of the Algarve, accused of breaching security, aggravated threat or illegal stay.
The detainees, aged 23 and 24, entered the ship on June 8, in the Port of Izmir, Turkey, and, since being detected, have shown “a non-cooperative attitude with the authority of the ship, starting to assume threatening behaviour against the crew”, disclosed the Judiciary Police (PJ), in a statement.
The action of this police force, in coordination with the National Maritime Authority (AMN), took place “following a request for help from the captain of the ship, who, together with the rest of the crew, were being victims of serious threats against their lives and against the safety of the vessel”. In Portuguese territorial waters, the authorities carried out “a wide range of acts of collection of evidence on the vessel”, which allowed the “indictment of the commission of crimes of attack on the safety of transport by water, illegal introduction in a place closed to the public, aggravated threat and illegal stay in national territory”.
A Portuguese Navy ship and the Tactical Actions Group of the Maritime Police, from the AMN, were involved in the boarding operation of the merchant ship “Vestwind”, in conjunction with the National Counter-Terrorism Unit of the PJ.
This police force also revealed that on the maritime route between Turkey and Portuguese territorial waters, the “ship’s commander requested successive requests for support and assistance, to proceed with the disembarkation of the two stowaways, steps that, despite being insistent, were not accepted, different countries”.
The detainees will be present at the first judicial interrogation for the application of coercive measures, deemed appropriate, at the Faro Criminal Investigation Court , the PJ also said.
Man Arrested for Attempted Murder in Portimao
A 25-year-old man was arrested in the act of committing the crime of attempted murder on Saturday, June 17, in Portimão , announced the Public Security Police (PSP).
In the early hours of Saturday, next to a nightlife establishment, several individuals exchanged aggression and one of them struck a knife in the lung area of one of those present. The Rapid Intervention Team was immediately called to the scene, which with the help of locals located the suspect and collected the evidence of the crime.
The detainee was present at the first judicial interrogation on Tuesday, June 20, and he was decreed the coercive measure of preventive detention, with the possibility of changing it to an obligation to stay in the house.
Four Arrested for Theft of Catalytic Converters in Portimao
On Monday afternoon, the PSP caught four suspects, in full swing of criminal activity, stealing the catalytic converter from a vehicle in Portimão.
After reports of a group of suspects operating in the western Algarve, stealing catalytic converters from vehicles, the Portimão Criminal Investigation Station triggered surveillance actions in the areas normally most affected by this criminal practice, and caught four men, aged between 19 and 30 years old, red handed.
The suspects were detained, and after investigation the authorities seized five catalysts, from thefts committed by the suspects in Portimão, Lagoa and Silves. Various material used in criminal activities was also apprehended, namely a hydraulic jack and other tools intended for cutting vehicle components.
Authorities also seized 103 doses of cocaine that were in the possession of the suspects.
Road Collision Leaves 6 Injured near Faro
A collision involving four light vehicles yesterday evening, next to the Prison in Faro, caused six people to be injured, one of them seriously.
The alert for the accident was given at 19:43 yesterday evening, with a total of a total of 25 emergency crew from the Faro firefighters, Red Cross and INEM being dispatched. A 25 year old woman who was seriously injured was transported to Faro hospital, as were the other 5 involved in the collision, who were less severely injured.
Thank you for reading and have a safe and enjoyable week.