Azores Situation Report Wednesday 17th September 2025
Three tourists rescued after attempting to circumnavigate Lagoa do Fogo along the ridges
On Sunday night, Ribeira Grande Volunteer Firefighters rescued three young Spanish women, aged 28 to 31, who got lost on an unauthorized trail in the Lagoa do Fogo area. The rescue operation, which lasted over six hours and involved more than 10 firefighters from Ribeira Grande and Vila Franca do Campo, raises the question of whether rescues on unapproved trails should be paid for.
The alert was given at 4:35 pm on Sunday. The tourists began their route at Pico da Barrosa, aiming to circumnavigate the Lagoa do Fogo crater along the ridges. However, they got lost in the Lombadas area at Pico da Vela, without appropriate clothing or essential items like a portable charger or flashlight. They descended to the waterline but then climbed back up to the ridges, eventually stopping at a point where further ascent was impossible. Firefighters instructed them to return to the waterline due to the steep ravine. When found, the tourists were physically fine, with only a few scratches.
José Nuno Moniz, the commander of the Ribeira Grande Volunteer Firefighters, emphasized that people should pay for rescues on unapproved trails. He noted that there are many approved trails on the island, making it difficult to understand why rescues on non-approved trails occur. He also highlighted the risks involved in such rescues, especially in adverse weather conditions.
The rescue operation involved a first team from Lombadas and another team from Barrosa. The first team eventually found the tourists after navigating through dense vegetation. The ridges of Lagoa do Fogo have abandoned shortcuts that may mislead tourists into thinking they are trails.
Air Force rescues man on Pico Mountain
Last Saturday, the Air Force rescued a 51-year-old man who needed urgent medical assistance while hiking on Pico Mountain. The alert was issued by the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service. The man was at an altitude of approximately 2,150 meters on a steeply sloping cliff, making rescue operations difficult. Despite the challenging conditions, the rescue mission was successful, and the man was transported to Ponta Delgada hospital for medical care.
IPMA raises the warning for the islands of the Western Azores group to orange
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) raised the warning level to orange in the Western group of the Azores due to heavy rainfall, which may be accompanied by thunderstorms. The approach of a cold frontal surface with waves will worsen weather conditions in the Western (Flores and Corvo) and Central (Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa, and Terceira) groups. Heavy rainfall is expected in the Western group, especially in the early hours of Wednesday, prompting the orange warning.