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Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 12^th November 2025

Good afternoon everyone. In terms of climate change an important event is taking place in Brazil – COP 30. Specifically Portugal is one of the signatory countries of the “Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Wildfire Resilience”, approved within the framework of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) , which is taking place in Belém do Pará, Brazil.

In the commitment “Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Forest Fire Resilience,” the signatories acknowledge that wildfires are one of the most dramatic manifestations of climate change, affecting all States equally and constituting a challenge that “no country is capable of facing alone.” COP 30 reinforces “our shared commitment in scaling up Integrated Fire Management (IFM). Of the 10 main provisions the following two stand out as very relevant and necessary in addressing some of these important issues.

Firstly is a commitment to promote a global transition from reactive fire suppression toward proactive, prevention-driven, inclusive and ecological fire management strategies that strengthen adaptation and contribute to mitigation, protect biodiversity and combat desertification, through risk-informed planning and implementation covering the entire fire cycle (prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and ecological use of fire). In Portugal we have seen a dramatic change in this direction over the last five years from the high percentage of budget previously being spent on suppression of fires, to prevention.

Strengthening international Cooperation: prevent, fight and recover from wildfires by taking integrated action to reduce the incidence and negative impacts of wildfires and ensure our readiness to help each other and our partners; this includes enhancing collaboration across borders and institutions, consistent with the UNFCCC’s call for the widest possible cooperation, by, where relevant, and consistent with international legal frameworks, sharing technologies, expertise, and resources, and by enhancing interoperability, including developing common protocols for emergency coordination, capacity development, and regional fire governance, in line with the nature of fires and responses associated with them, as well as work under the FAO-hosted Global Fire Management Hub.

Black Friday which this year is 28^th November is approaching, but in reality the sales have already started in the shops and on-line. Black Friday period is one of those that registers the greatest increase in digital scams, especially phishing scams. In this type of scam, criminals clone pages of well-known stores and create fake websites to steal data or money from consumers.

The last two years have seen the emergence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) used by criminals, which is making holiday shopping scams increasingly difficult to spot. Scammers use machine learning to analyse consumer behaviour, crafting targeted attacks that exploit urgency and trust. For instance, fake online stores pop up overnight, offering unbelievable discounts on hot items, only to vanish after collecting payment and personal data. Safe Communities has prepared a feature in this week’s Portugal Resident (out tomorrow) which explains what has changed and advice on how to spot AL generated scams. If you intend to purchase goods on-line I suggest you study this first.

Yet another storm is approaching and that is Storm Claudia now starting to effect Madeira.

The ANEPC have issued a warning to the population which advises people to take special care when driving and staying near tree-lined areas, being aware of the possibility of falling branches and trees due to stronger winds. Also to be extra careful when driving near the coast and riverfront areas historically more vulnerable to floodwaters coastlines, avoiding traffic and staying in these places. The full advice can be found on our Facebook page yesterday and on our website in English here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/current-anpc-weather-warning-to-the-population-2/

Please follow the IPMA weather warnings and ANEPC advice and have a safe week ahead.

News:

Healthcare professionals set an example after appeal for blood donations.

There is a risk of blood shortages in hospitals because reserves are below normal. The situation is not yet considered critical, but authorities are again asking the public for help. In hospitals like the one in Braga, healthcare professionals themselves are setting an example.

The appeal from the Portuguese Federation of Voluntary Blood Donors (FEPODABES) resonated even within its own walls. Joana, who works at the Braga Local Health Unit, heard the requests and wanted to donate blood for the first time.

“We were having a coffee chat, our boss spoke up and emphasized the need for blood donation, and I said that I had never donated before and that I would like to do so. She took the opportunity to invite me to become part of this great family that is blood donors,” the professional told SIC.

But it wasn’t the only one. The drop in reserves happens every year around this time. And to prevent the situation from becoming critical, the appeals are repeated.

Aldara Braga, clinical director of the ULS of Braga, states that “there are some unforeseen circumstances that lead to donors being a little less frequent at this time of year ,” due to “infectious incidents.” Work-related issues can also impact donation, and therefore, “the appeal is always, always, always relevant.”

Thanks to the increased donations in recent days, reserves have already begun to improve, and the appeal is nationwide. This appeal has also come from the Portuguese Federation of Donors, which warns of some obstacles that continue to hinder the process.

“Many hospitals that collect blood today have a schedule that makes us very apprehensive, which is closing at three or four in the afternoon. And then we don’t have enough professionals to collect as many blood samples as are needed, which causes the blood supply to decrease,” says Alberto Mota. 

From the ground to the sky: International Hot Air Balloon Festival returns with colors and night time magic.

The event includes daytime flights near the Benavila dam in Avis, and the ‘Night Glow’ night time show in Ponte de Sor, transforming the region’s skies into a palette of vibrant colors.

These days, the Alentejo sky is filled with balloons. The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is taking place in that region until the 13th.

Everything was ready for another day of the festival. It dawned gray, but with safety conditions that allowed for flying, and that increased the anticipation and anxiety.

Still on the ground, next to the Benavila dam in Avis, the colours of the balloon tarpaulins painted the banks of the reservoir. There are 33 pilots of six different nationalities: some come for a mission, others for the scenery, but all for the passion of flying.

The palette of colours invaded the skies of Alentejo, and the anxiety of before gave way to a calm that, during the flight, is only interrupted by the flares.

And the images did not disappoint. Despite the grey weather, once up here it’s desirable to land, and if it’s done with some subtlety, all the better.

The thing is, this ballooning business isn’t exactly an exact science, except in the construction. Many of the balloons that have flown at the festival are manufactured in Madrid, in the only factory on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the few in Europe.

At night, the magic happens again in the skies of Alentejo, this time in Ponte de Sor, with the Night Glow show.

The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is in the air until the 13th. You can check the program on the organization’s website or try your luck and look up at the sky.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 22^nd October 2025

Good afternoon. We start this weekly report with the excellent work being undertaken both by the PSP and GNR. The first is the arrest of seven people during a mega-operation that culminated in the seizure of 5.8 tons of hashish. This is the largest amount of drugs ever seized by the PSP, with an estimated value of over several million euros, this police force announced in the final balance sheet.

Also seized were 580,000 euros in cash, 10 vehicles, 21 cell phones, two satellite phones, two automatic weapons, five pistols, a shotgun, a revolver, three electric weapons, around 500 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, two speedboats, six boats, 21 high-powered engines, six luxury watches, around 15,000 litres of gasoline, video surveillance systems (CCTV), solar panels and communication inhibitors, the PSP announced this Tuesday.

The investigation, which lasted eight months , revealed that the network used drug storage facilities located in strategic areas to facilitate transport by sea, “also possessing weapons, communication equipment and logistical support, which demonstrate a high degree of sophistication and danger”, said the PSP. We congratulate the PSP for their professionalism, and coordination in undertaking such a thorough investigation and well planned and successful operation. Clearly it was a dangerous operation given the type of weapons seized. Well done!

The second, this time by the GNR involves the arrest of two suspects for more than one hundred thefts of non-precious metals from electric vehicle charging stations in the districts of Santarém, Setúbal, Leiria, Lisbon, and Évora. Two of the establishments are located in the Óbidos area.

The investigation had been ongoing for about a month and after the suspects were identified, the Santarém Territorial Command of the GNR executed two arrest warrants and carried out three searches (two at homes and one at a waste management operator).The operation, carried out with the support of the GNR Territorial Commands of Setúbal, Leiria, Lisbon and Évora and the PSP, allowed the seizure of electric charging cables, electric cable dismantling machinery, material from dismantling, cutting shears and protective material, documents related to transactions of non-precious metals and computer equipment and a motor vehicle.

The following case in Alcobaça involves the arrest of two people for fraud, document forgery, possession of prohibited weapons, and misuse of name, emblem, or uniform. The GNR Leiria Territorial Command, through the Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC) in Caldas da Rainha,on, October 20, arrested a man and a woman, aged 37 and 41, in the town of Benedita, in the municipality of Alcobaça.

As part of a criminal investigation that has been ongoing for approximately four months. The GNR officers executed three search warrants: one at a residence and two at a vehicle. Following the operation, two security searches were also conducted on the suspects, resulting in arrests and the seizure of an extensive range of items belonging to the GNR and PSP. The reason why the two arrested should have such a large range of items, has not been disclosed, although the word “misuse” indicates that the suspects were, using, or planning to use, the items, in order to approach members of the public pretending to be police officers

Despite this there are reports in the media that there is public concern that the use of violence in crime is increasing certainly in Lisbon, although the Minister of Internal Administration commented when asked, that “perception does not always reflect reality”. She acknowledged however that, “there is indeed some increase in violent crime, but not as much as the media reports,” argues the Minister of Internal Affairs, Maria Lúcia Amaral. Last week, police recorded five cases of people being shot. In particular, a man was admitted to Amadora-Sintra Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning with gunshot wounds to the knee, after another young man was also left outside the same hospital last Sunday with abdominal injuries.

However, this perception of insecurity was certainly not improved, with the attack yesterday by a person using a sharp weapon at the facilities of the Picapau Association, a drug addiction treatment centre located in Almoster, (not in Lisbon) but in the municipality of Santarém. Two of the victims, who were in serious condition, were transported to Santarém Hospital, while the others were assessed on site by emergency teams. More details are not known at present.

Our team wishes you all the best for the week ahead

News

The European Anti-Torture Committee calls on Portuguese authorities to “completely eradicate” physical abuse by police, adding that complaints continue despite progress made in recent years.

In the report released this Tuesday (October 21) on a visit to Portugal in 2024, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) states that it observed “a decrease” in allegations of ill-treatment by law enforcement officials compared to previous visits to the country”, and that measures were also taken by the Portuguese authorities to address this issue.

However, it highlights that “concerns continue to exist,” having received several allegations of physical mistreatment by Portuguese police, including “excessive use of force during detention.”

“The alleged mistreatment consisted primarily of punches, kicks to the body and/or head and, occasionally, the use of batons,” the document states.

The complaints also included being thrown against a wall, pressure on the head with a foot or on the neck with a knee or baton, “despite the detainees having already been controlled,” the rapporteurs write, also reporting reports of verbal threats and acts of humiliation.

The document makes reference to the need to ensure medical care and better reporting of injuries.

“The Portuguese authorities must remain vigilant and continue their efforts, in line with a zero-tolerance policy, to completely eradicate police mistreatment. They must, in particular, improve reporting of such cases, both internally and to the competent investigative bodies, and provide adequate training to law enforcement officials,” recommend the experts from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman Treatment.

The Committee expressed “deep concern about persistent failures in the response of the Portuguese criminal justice system,” which it said poses a risk to trust in the Portuguese authorities.

“Regarding access to a lawyer, this right does not appear to be guaranteed to people in police custody in all cases, from the beginning of the deprivation of liberty,” the report’s authors noted.

“The CPT continued to note omissions on the part of prison establishments, as well as the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) and the General Inspectorate of Justice Services, in communicating possible cases of mistreatment by law enforcement officials to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as well as cases in which allegations or information indicating mistreatment were not responded to, or were responded to insufficiently quickly, by this service,” the document adds.

The committee also highlighted the need to improve communication and information sharing between criminal and disciplinary investigation bodies, especially in cases where disciplinary and criminal proceedings run in parallel.

The authors of the documents also request that agents be identified during operations and dispute the fact that some agents cover their faces.

The Committee for the Prevention of Torture also recommends that authorities implement the use of body cameras , a measure that, the report’s authors emphasize, offers additional protection against the “risk of excessive use and other forms of treatment, also guaranteeing protection [for officers] against any allegations of ill-treatment.”

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 15^th October 2025

Good afternoon. If you have been monitoring the weather forecasts over the last week, you will see that whereas Portugal has had generally fine weather, this is not the case with our neighbours Spain. Yesterday AEMET raised to a red level warning for torrential rain in the south of the province of Valencia, in effect until at least 15:00 (local time).

The best news is the announcement by Civil Protection is that no one is missing, a circumstance almost surprising given the magnitude of the storm and the images of the streets of several municipalities turned into flooded rivers. Despite this, 18 injuries have been reported, one of them seriously injured after falling, fracturing his hip, and being taken to the hospital. The rest received minor treatments. The Generalitat’s Fire Brigade responded to 340 calls between 17:30 on Sunday (Oct 12) and 7:00 (Oct 13). Thirty-one people were rescued, most of them in their cars on flooded roads.

The powerful DANA was an unprecedented event of torrential rain that broke historical records, for instance with 280 l/m2 in Mas de Barberans, Tarragona.

On the 10th October the Region of Murcia experienced a complicated day due to the heavy rainfall caused by DANA Alice, especially along the Cartagena coast, where up to 120 l/m2 accumulated in just a few hours. Due to this situation, 101 people were forced to evacuate from a campsite that was at risk of flooding, as well as residents of the Bahía Bella and La Algameca residential areas, who were also affected by accumulated rain.

We advise, therefore,  those travelling to parts of Spain, especially areas that have a history of intense rain to check forecasts carefully before heading out. We publish heavy rain and storm warnings on this page and in more detail on our Facebook Group “Safe Communities Portugal Protection again Natural Hazards.

CP railways has opened an investigation, following “internal procedures”, to determine “possible causes and possible improvement actions” that led to Monday’s incident in which an Intercidades (Inter City) train lost one of its carriages midway through a journey between Lisbon and Faro.

CP in a statement said that “Passenger safety was not affected, as the trains are designed to brake and immobilize vehicles in these situations, as happened,” CP said. As for the passengers, they were “safely taken to the remaining carriages” and, “after checking all the carriages and their safety conditions, the train continued its journey to Faro”.

Publico stated: “There were no injuries, nor is the situation potentially very dangerous, as a broken coupling causes a rupture in the main brake line, bringing the train to an immediate stop. On all CP trains, the carriages are always connected by automatic brake lines. If the train accidentally splits (as was the case with the coupling break), both separate sections of the train stop automatically, regardless of the line’s gradient”. “Everything indicates that some maintenance failure led to the coupler’s failure, as CP has been having difficulty performing general overhauls on its carriages. Currently, one in five Intercidades carriages is parked in workshops awaiting maintenance or repairs”.

It is important that the investigation is completed quickly and thoroughly given the large number of passengers that travel daily on the Inter City trains throughout the mainland.

Lastly please remember that the fire risk remains very high in places so we much not be complacent when it comes to fire prevention. The ground is still very dry in some places and yesterday much of the mainland had a minimum relativity of under 30%. Remember a small spark can cause a very large fire. Follow the regulations in place.

Have a good week ahead 

News:

CP opens investigation to “determine the causes” of “anomaly” that separated train carriage

In a clarification to SIC, CP confirmed the incident that occurred this Monday at “around 4 pm” indicating that the train in question “had an anomaly when leaving Grândola station”.

CP has opened an investigation, following “internal procedures”, to determine “possible causes and possible improvement actions” that led to Monday’s incident in which an Intercidades train lost one of its carriages midway through a journey between Lisbon and Faro.

In a clarification to SIC, CP confirmed the incident that occurred this Monday “around 4 pm” indicating that the train in question “had an anomaly when leaving Grândola station”.

The problem was caused by “a rupture in the coupling between two trains, which resulted in the train’s carriages separating.” According to the company, “there are no previous records of this failure occurring in the mechanical element that broke.”

“Passenger safety was not affected, as the trains are designed to brake and immobilize vehicles in these situations, as happened,” CP said.

As for the passengers, they were “safely taken to the remaining carriages” and, “after checking all the carriages and their safety conditions, the train continued its journey to Faro”.

As for the carriage that separated from the train, the company indicates that “it was rescued in Grândola with the help of a Medway locomotive”.

The company guarantees that “periodic maintenance of all rolling stock is scrupulously carried out by the company” and the inspection plan “is being carried out as planned”.

As reported this morning, the Aircraft and Railway Accident Prevention and Investigation Office has also opened an investigation to gather more information about the incident.

According to the newspaper Público, which broke the news this Tuesday, one in every five Intercidades carriages is stopped waiting for maintenance or repairs.

Theranostics: medicine’s latest investment in cancer diagnosis and treatment

It allows doctors to pinpoint the location of tumour cells and deliver radiation treatment to them to kill them. The Porto IPO was the country’s largest medical centre to invest in this technology, with encouraging results for patients.

It’s just a feeling, but exactly the one you’re looking for after years of cancer treatments. “I think my disease has practically disappeared with this treatment,” Albano Soares tells SIC.

“I’m much better. I didn’t eat, I didn’t sleep, I didn’t walk – I went through all those phases – and now I eat, I sleep, I breathe well and I’m much better. I can get dressed by myself and everything, and back then I couldn’t even do that.”

This is a successful case of prostate cancer resulting from a nuclear medicine therapeutic and diagnostic approach: theranostics. This is a highly personalized approach to the patient and the tumour. It’s only possible with highly qualified professionals and cutting-edge technology like this Gama Digital Camera. It’s been at the Porto IPO since July and is one of two in the entire country.

But not all cancer patients are suitable for this approach. For now, the radiopharmaceuticals prepared here at the Porto IPO are used as a second-line treatment for neuroendocrine tumours and as a last-line treatment for prostate tumours.

The Porto IPO’s investment in the theranostics field has already exceeded five million euros. It was the Portuguese unit that invested most heavily in this area. Last year, Porto’s nuclear medicine service performed approximately 16,000 procedures, 300 of which were therapeutic.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 8 October 2025

Good morning. It was sad to learn that just five months into the 2025 Bathing Season, the National Maritime Authority recorded, between May 1 and September 30, 1,120 rescues, 3,787 first aid actions and 18 fatalities on Portuguese beaches. Eleven of the facilities were at unsupervised beaches.

A reminder that the new border management system – the Input/Exit System (EES) – will soon start. The EES is the new European system for automated external border control of the Schengen space that will gradually replace traditional passport stamps with centralized electronic registrations. It is intended for third country citizens traveling to Europe, for short-term stays.

The new Entry/Exit System (EES) will start operations on 12 October 2025. European countries using the EES will introduce the system gradually at their external borders. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026.

In case you are not aware the French air traffic controllers have called off a three-day strike that threatened to disrupt European flights from, 7^th – 10^th October, a top union said on Saturday. We mention this because at least one online news organisation does not appear to be aware of this stating this afternoon that “the strike appears to be having little effect!”

The main union in the sector, the SNCTA, announced the suspension of its strike notice for Tuesday to Thursday following consultations with the Civil Aviation Authority and “agreements” with the management. The union, which represents around 60 percent of workers, has pushed for better pay and conditions. The statement also referred to a promise by new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu not to ram his austerity budget through parliament without a vote, seen as a key concession to the opposition.

The main French air traffic control union, SNCTA, has announced a strike from 7 to 10 October 2025, which is expected to cause tens of thousands of flight cancellations and delays across Western Europe.

A reminder concerning scams. Fake emails and SMSs are circulating in the name of ANSR (National Road Safety Authority) with summit notifications and payment requests. BE CAREFUL! THE ANSR WILL NEVER: Send notifications by email or SMS; Request payments through links; Use digital media for official communications. All notifications are always sent by PHYSICAL MAIL. If you receive a suspicious message: Do NOT click on any links; DO NOT provide personal data; DO NOT make payments. In case of any doubt, contact ANSR 214 236 800

This is not the only scam. Another one concerns an alleged debt owed to SNS. If you receive a message asking you to pay for a supposed emergency room visit, do not click on the link, do not make any payment, and do not enter any personal or banking information. The Viseu Dão-Lafões Local Health Unit (ULS) warned, last Friday, about the circulation of mobile phone messages (sms) in the name of the National Health Service (SNS) about outstanding amounts and with a ‘link’ to pay.

According to a press release, the ULS states that “fake SMS messages are circulating in the name of the SNS and the Ministry of Health” and these messages “refer to the existence of outstanding amounts relating to the emergency, which must be paid within five days”.

Our team wish you all the very best for the week ahead.

News

Case of pulmonary tuberculosis detected in a hotel in the Lisbon region

The case is undergoing clinical and therapeutic monitoring at the Community Respiratory Consultation in the area of ​​residence, according to the DGS, which, for now, rules out “evidence of increased risk” for the population.

Health authorities are monitoring a case of pulmonary tuberculosis detected in a hotel in the Lisbon region, identifying high-risk contacts and referring them for screening. The information was released this Tuesday by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

In a response to the Lusa news agency, following a report of tuberculosis cases in a hotel, the DGS clarifies that, “to date, a case of pulmonary tuberculosis has been confirmed in a professional linked to a hotel establishment in the Lisbon region”.

According to the DGS, this case is undergoing clinical and therapeutic monitoring at the Community Respiratory Consultation in the area of ​​residence.

“To date, there is no evidence of an increased risk to the general population. All recommended isolation and treatment measures have been followed by the case,” he emphasizes.

The DGS states that The DGS states that health authorities and other partners are identifying “at-risk contacts based on their exposure to the case and referring them for screening,” following public health standards and guidelines applicable to these cases.

Airborne transmission

Pulmonary tuberculosis is transmitted mainly through the air, when a person with the disease releases small infected particles when coughing, talking or sneezing, says the DGS, highlighting that the risk of contagion depends on the severity of the disease, the proximity and duration of contact and the conditions of the location.

“Only tuberculosis that affects the respiratory tract is contagious. When a case is identified, health authorities track close contacts—people who spent several hours with the patient—to detect possible infections,” he emphasizes.

The health authority explains that screening begins by ruling out active disease, through symptoms and a chest X-ray, and continues with a blood test (IGRA) that assesses whether there has been previous contact with the bacteria.

Screening aims to ensure early detection of disease cases and prevention of transmission. 

SPAIN – AEMET names the first major storm/dana (cut-off low) of the 2025-2026 season: storm/dana Alice.

From now on, the most adverse Dana will also have their own names. The name Dana comes from the acronym DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos – Cut-off low in English). By nature, these systems develop in a complex manner and are difficult to predict. In conjunction with other factors, they are capable of generating very intense, locally torrential, precipitation (rain and snow) and high-impact storms.

Storm/Dana ALICE – Will cause very heavy and persistent downpours in areas of the eastern Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands in the coming days.

 Take extreme precautions and check the current warnings on the AEMET website and the AEMET app.

Start: Late Wednesday Oct 8th

Duration: At least until Sunday Oct 12th

Probability: High (70%)

Tomorrow, Wednesday Oct 8th, a trough with an associated cold mass air at mid-levels will enter the western Iberian Peninsula and advance eastward, forming several vortices within it over the following days, giving rise to Storm/Dana Alice.

At surface level, a powerful northerly high pressure system will foster an easterly and north easterly flow with a maritime path that will bring abundant moisture to the Mediterranean coast.

This configuration will be fairly stationary, leading to a blocking situation that will cause the DESCRIBED CONDITIONS TO PERSIST FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WITH VERY HEAVY AND PERSISTENT RAINFALL AFFECTING MAINLY THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE PENINSULA AND THE BALEARIC ISLANDS from late tomorrow, Wednesday Oct 8th, and at least until Sunday Oct 12th.

The area with the highest accumulations throughout the episode will be THE AREA AROUND CABO DE LA NAO, PARTICULARLY THE COASTAL AND PRE-COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTHERN VALENCIA AND NORTHERN ALICANTE. The showers could lead to local flash flooding in low-lying areas, streams, and drainage channels, so the potential danger level of this situation is high.

 As of today, the highest accumulations, the most adverse situation, is expected in the south of the province of Valencia (Sueca, Cullera, Gandía, Oliva), the north of Alicante (Denia, Pego, Vall de Ebo, Ondara), and the extreme southeast of Murcia (Cabo de Palos and Mar Menor). These areas are highly exposed to north easterly winds, which are expected to predominate. Elsewhere, rain is also expected, but intermittent and less intense.

West Antarctica hides almost a hundred volcanoes under the ice:

The colossal West Antarctic ice sheet hides what appears to be the largest volcanic region on the planet, according to the results of a study carried out by researchers at the University of Edinburgh (UK) and reported in the journal Geological Society.

Experts have discovered as many as 91 volcanoes under Antarctic ice, the largest of which is as high as Switzerland’s Eiger volcano, rising 3,970 meters above sea level

According to o experts, the area has many similarities to the East African volcanic ridge, which currently holds the record for the densest concentration of volcanoes in the world. They remotely surveyed the underside of the ice sheet to detect hidden peaks of basaltic rock, like those of other volcanoes in the region whose tips or spikes press above the ice.

By analysing the land beneath the ice, the ice and comparing the results with satellite and database records, as well as geological information from aerial assessments, the geologists found 91 previously unknown volcanoes, ranging in height from 100 to 3,850 meters.

“We found 180 peaks, but we discounted 50 because they didn’t match the other data,” explains Robert Bingham, co-author of the paper. They eventually found 138 peaks under the West Antarctic ice sheet, including 47 volcanoes already known because their peaks protrude through the ice, leaving the figure of 91 newly discovered.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 1^st October 2025

Good afternoon. When reviewing our Facebook performance on this, our main page, we found that in the 28 days up to yesterday our posts during that period obtained a total 7,599,645 views. This represented a 149% growth on the previous 28 day period. Two of our highest views were both on 27^th September, one being the approach of Gabrielle which obtained 795,203 views and earlier in the day, when a post on the forecast of wind speed and precautions to take, obtained 564,377 views. This shows that our key messages concerning risk awareness and preparedness for hazards are reaching a high number of people, which is important in ensure people are aware and can plan accordingly. In can be life-saving in some situations!

After the passing of Gabrielle, you would be right in asking, will there be more of the same this year? The answer is most likely “yes”.

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, and will end on November 30. After a slow start, there has recently been back-to-back tropical cyclones expected to whip up the Atlantic Ocean and produce dangerous waves.

But it is not only waves that we should be concerned about. The second issue is how the close passing or a direct hit on the mainland would have if we were experiencing active wild fires at the time, as was the case in October 2017.

Gabrielle hit the Azores as a Hurricane Category 1, causing nearly 200 occurrences, but soon lost strength, eventually arriving on the mainland as a post tropical cyclone. By this time the wind speeds had decreased considerably, but still on 27^th September there was a wind gust of almost 100 km/h recorded.

A week earlier the fire in Aljezur was burning with intensity to the point where the fire commander stated “that it had reached a level at which it was out of control and beyond the capacity of resources, both on the ground and in the air to extinguish”. This begs the question what would have been the effect if the tropical cyclone had arrived a week earlier and had not lost its intensity! Read more about this in our feature in the Portugal Resident out tomorrow Thursday.

Once again Spain has been hardest hit by Gabrielle. Yesterday the Army UME emergencies unit has been activated in Ibiza due to a torrential rain storm Red level warnings in place. The Emergency Department sent an alert message via the EsAlert system to all mobile phones in Ibiza and Formentera, warning of the risk of flooding and urging the public to avoid travel and flood-prone areas, not to stay in basements and to go to upper floors in case of flooding.

AEMET maintains the red level warning in Ibiza and Formentera, where up to 200 millimetres of rain have accumulated in some areas. The storms, initially centred on Ibiza, have moved towards Formentera.

In an unprecedented operation in Galicia, Spain: police officers intercepted a large shipment of cocaine delivered to the coast by a narco-submarine. The operation resulted in the arrest of 14 people involved in unloading and further distribution of the drugs. The total weight of the seized cargo was approximately 3.5 tons.

The drugs landed on September 13, prompting a coastal chase. Officers intercepted one vehicle carrying cocaine bales. Local police found the remaining cargo the next morning. This is the first time such a seizure has taken place on land in Spain. Another example of excellent co-operation on this occasion by the Spanish police and the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

Our team wish you a nice week ahead.

News

Six deaths and more than 7,700 incidents of domestic violence in three months

In the second quarter of this year alone, six people died, comprising five women and one man, as victims of homicide in the context of domestic violence.

Six people died between April and June 2025, while the PSP and GNR recorded 7,713 incidents, 657 more than in the previous quarter, according to data released this Monday.

According to data from the Domestic Violence Portal, managed by the Commission for Equality and Citizenship (CIG), in the second quarter of this year, six people died, including five women and one man, as victims of homicide in the context of domestic violence.

In total, since the beginning of the year, 13 people have died as a result of domestic violence, the majority of whom (11) were women.

In the same period, PSP and GNR reported 7,713 incidents, a number 9.3% above the 7,056 complaints registered in the first quarter of this year, but 0.3% below the same period in 2024 .

Regarding support measures for victims of domestic violence, there were 5,939 people with tele assistance measures, 81 more than in the first quarter of 2025.

On the other hand, there were 1,401 people welcomed into the National Support Network for Victims of Domestic Violence (RNAVVD), including 733 women, 643 children and 25 men .

There was a need to transport victims in 231 situations, totalling 392 people, including 229 women, 160 children and two men.

In the second quarter of 2025, there were 1,461 inmates serving sentences for the crime of domestic violence, including 395 in preventive detention and 1,066 serving effective sentences.