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Azores Situation Report Wednesday 20th September 2023

CUF Hospital in Lagoa will carry out heart surgery from October onwards, such as coronary valve replacement and bypass placement. 

 There are around 120 patients awaiting heart surgery in the archipelago, and interventions to replace coronary valves or bypass placement will begin at the end of October, no longer requiring patients to travel to the mainland and Madeira.
This will be possible with the protocol that will be signed between the Government of the Region and CUF Açores. Therefore, these surgeries will be carried out from the end of this month at the private hospital, in Lagoa.

With the reinforced capacity, which CUF Açores is now guaranteeing to the Region, there will be cardiac surgery in the Azores which will reduce and even eliminate the list of around 120 patients over time. “It is my deep conviction that by the end of October we will have this offer registered”, stated the President of the Government.

José Manuel Bolieiro left words of “welcome, satisfaction and hope” for the group’s presence in the Region, and defending a “rational and intelligent complementarity” between the private and social sector with the Regional Health Service.

Researchers from the universities of Liverpool and the Azores launch book on earthquakes and volcanoes 

The presentation of the book “Earthquakes and Volcanic Activity on Island: History and contemporary Perspectives from the Azores”, by authors David Chester, Angus Duncan, Rui Coutinho and Nicolau Wallenstein from the universities of Liverpool and the Azores, will take place on the 18th of September , at 6 pm, in amphitheatre VIII on the Ponta Delgada campus of the University of the Azores.

The work represents a synthesis of collaborative work over almost three decades and focuses on the impact and responses to historic earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the Azores. The study is placed in the contexts of history and geography and the progress made in predicting future events and risk reduction policies. It addresses seismic and volcanic activities throughout the archipelago, based on published scientific research and careful study of historical archival materials. It analyses, in some depth, the tectonics and geology of the islands, making the target audience include all those interested in geology, geography, history and responses to risks in the Azores, having been written for the educated reader, in general, but also for experts in Earth Sciences and Risk Assessment.

 

Maderia Situation Report Wednesday 13th September 2023

Forty-four Madeira Port Authority workers have certified training in the use of defibrillators

A total of 44 APRAM (Madeira Port Authority) workers are now certified in the use of defibrillators, after 23 workers were certified this week. This means they are capable of providing first-aid and saving the lives of people who suffered a cardiac arrest. This skill is particularly important because an average of 800,000 people (passengers and crew) use the Port of Madeira.

The workers had received training from the Funchal Fire Service. Further training will be provided to Madeira Port Authority workers.

There are also plans to add more defibrillators to the Port’s facilities such as the North Terminal, dock number 6, Centro Náutico de São Lázaro (CNSL), and Cais de Recreio do Porto do Funchal (CRPF).

Madeira Wine Company launched new wines

On September 12th, Madeira Wine Company launched 11 new wines that were separated by 3 of the company’s brands:

Blandy’s Madeira, 4 Colheitas e 4 Frasqueiras:

– Colheita Sercial 2010

– Colheita Verdelho 2010

– Colheita Bual 2010

– Colheita Malmsey 2010

– Frasqueira Malmsey 1991

– Frasqueira Sercial 1990

– Frasqueira Verdelho 1982

– Frasqueira Bual 1976

Miles Madeira, 1 Colheita e 1-20 anos doce:

– Colheita Tinta Negra 2007

– 20 anos Tinta Negra doce

Cossart Gordon Madeira, 1 Frasqueira

– Frasqueira Malmsey 1995

Power cut

Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (Madeira power supplier) announced there will be power cuts due to scheduled work on the electricity supply network. These cannot be postponed and will take place in the following days and places:

FUNCHAL

September 13th – 09h00 to 11h30 (TODAY)

– Rua da Levada dos Barreiros (numbers 3A to 29)

– Rampa da Levada dos Barreiros

However, power could be restored during the time frame mentioned above. So, for safety purposes, it should be assumed that there will be power at any time during this period of time.

If necessary, customers can contact the free Customer Support Service number (Serviço de Apoio ao Cliente): 800 221 187.

Water supply disruption

There will be a water supply disruptions in the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava in the following days:

September 14th – from 09h00 to 13h00:  Parish of Ribeira Brava (Apresentação, Cruz, Fajã da Urtiga, Fajã do Cerejo, Lombo Cesteiro, Pomar da Rocha, Pico Banda d’Além)

September 14th – from 09h00 to 13h00:  Parish of Câmara de Lobos (Rua Caminho do Pico, Entrance number 1 of Rua Caminho do Pico)

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 13th September 2023

by Mike Evans

With the region experiencing a welcome dousing of rain in the past week it is an opportune time to raise the issue of water usage and the consumption from the area. The month of August was the fifth hottest in mainland Portugal since 1931, with two heat waves and an increase in the drought situation reaching 97% of the country. The Algarve was one of the territories that showed the decrease in the percentage of water in the soil throughout the territory. In the Algarve the percentage values of water in the soil is below 10%, and in many places “the water content in the soil is at the level of permanent wilting point”.

The Minister of the Environment has welcomed investments to be made in Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago, in the Algarve, which will help to irrigate almost half of the region’s golf courses with reused wastewater by 2026. With the Government looking at the building of a new Dam for the Algarve, on the Foupana River, the minister was clear: “For now, what is a commitment is [carrying out] a study”.

According to figures provided by Duarte Cordeiro “overall water consumption in the Algarve decreased [until August] compared to last year by around 5.0 hectometres, agricultural and urban consumption”.

“I think we are all working and we can work better. We are all aware that we still have a lot of work to do in raising people’s awareness and we can all achieve even more results with this awareness”.

As we move into Autumn and Winter we can expect more rain and hope that the efforts to preserve water is successful.

Now let’s look at what is making the headlines across the region in the past week.

Authorities Seize Another 1.6 tons of Drugs in International Waters

A joint operation by the Navy , National Maritime Authority (AMN) and the Air Force, carried out on the night of Wednesday, the 6th, resulted in the seizure of 46 bales of hashish, around 1.6 tons, six jerrycans of fuel , a high-speed vessel and the arrest of six suspects for drug trafficking, was announced by AMN.

“The Navy, the National Maritime Authority and the Portuguese Air Force carried out, this evening, a joint operation in international waters 50 nautical miles, approximately 93 km southeast of Portugal, which resulted in the seizure of a high-speed vessel, 46 bales of hashish, approximately one thousand and six hundred kilos, six jerrycans of fuel and six crew members, male, of Moroccan and Spanish nationality, aged between 21 and 48 years old, who were taken ashore and subjected to the necessary procedures to its identification and consequent formalities of legal processing” refers to AMN in a statement.

​A Navy ship, two nautical assets, one operated by marines and the other by the Maritime Police, as well as an aircraft from the Portuguese Air Force, participated in the operation.The Navy, the National Maritime Authority and the Portuguese Air Force continually carry out missions to combat drug trafficking in the Algarve, having since the beginning of the year arrested 78 people and seized 32 high-speed vessels carrying around 33 tons of Narcotic products.

Mother and Daughter Injured on Pedestrian Crossing by Runaway Driver

A 38-year-old woman, of Bulgarian nationality, and her two-year-old baby daughter, were run over on Thursday, the 7th, on a pedestrian crossing in Altura, on Estrada Nacional 125, towards Castro Marim – Faro, and were left with light injuries. The  stroller in which the child was travelling was thrown a few metres away. The driver fled, but was later identified by the GNR.

The alert was given at 8:26 pm, when mother and daughter were crossing the pedestrian crossing in Altura, in the municipality of Castro Marim. The two-year-old child, who was in the stroller, was initially considered seriously injured, but later became slightly injured. The two victims were transported to Faro Hospital.

There were 11 operatives at the scene, supported by four vehicles from the Vila Real de Santo António Fire Department, INEM and the GNR , who managed to reach the driver of the vehicle.

Woman Hurt After Diving from a Cliff Rescued by Bombeiros

A 53 year old French woman was rescued by Vila do Bispo bombeiros on Thursday afternoon, after she dived from the cliffs at São João Vaz beach. The woman’s plan was to dive 10m into the sea, then climb back up the rocks after diving.

However, the victim injured her back when diving, making climbing out impossible. She was eventually rescued from the water using ropes and was lifted up the cliff.

ALGARVE: PSP RADAR LOCATIONS IN SEPTEMBER

The Public Security Police (PSP) have released the list of speed control radars in place during the month of September, in the Algarve.

As part of the monthly “Who warns you…” campaign for safer driving, the list below may be subject to occasional changes.

11/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Rua da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa – Tavira

12/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Avenida V2 – Portimão

20/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Avenida V6 – Portimão

22/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Rua Almirante Cândido dos Reis – Tavira

26/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Avenida V6 – Portimão

26/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Av. Dr. Gordinho Moreira – Faro

And Finally, if you want to try some new foods from Portugal and around the world but don’t want to spend out on a full dinner then you should try  Another edition of Rota do Petisco is back, which runs from September 15th to October 15th, organised by Teia D’ Impulsos, the organisation announced.

Snackers will have 31 days to travel through 11 municipalities (Aljezur , Vila do Bispo, Lagos, Portimão, Monchique, Lagoa, Silves, Albufeira, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel and Tavira) and 176 participating establishments.

The passport (€1.50) guarantees access to all snacks at an attractive price (Menu Petisco €4.00 and Menu Doce €2.50), including vegetarian options. This continues to be supportive, and the pre-selected projects will form part of a social entrepreneurship ‘bootcamp’, carried out by Teia D’Impulsos. The jury will choose as winners those with the greatest social impact.

The Rota do Mundo, restaurants with typical cuisine from other countries, and the Rota dos Chefs, signature dishes with regional products, are also returning.

Rota do Petisco is a cultural and recreational project originating in Portimão (2011) that consists of a gastronomic itinerary, involving several restaurant establishments organised by different geographical areas.

Teia D’ Impulsos is a non-profit association whose main objective is the development of social, cultural, sporting, training and environmental projects based on equal rights and opportunities among all citizens. For details of the establishments partaking go to this website https://www.rotadopetisco.com/

Until the next time…

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 13th September 2023

False bomb threat at Terceira airport 

The Public Security Police (PSP) was called yesterday morning to a false bomb threat at Lajes Airport, on the island of Terceira.

The alert was given by a Ryanair employee, after an argument with a passenger. However, it was a misunderstanding after the passenger refused to pay an extra baggage fee. After investigations, the police determined that it was not a bomb threat, but rather a conflict between an employee of that company and a passenger who was boarding to Porto.
An official PSP source explained that the passenger, “when confronted with the fact of having to pay the aforementioned fee, disagreed, and at that time told his wife that the Ryanair employee must have thought the suitcase had a bomb in it.”

Madalena invests in reforestation and Environmental Education 

Children from the municipal program “Férias em Movimento” learned, last week, how to plant seed bombs, at the Camping Park and Municipal Patinódromo.

The initiative promoted by the Municipality of Madalena, within the scope of the “Sê-lo Verde” project, had as its main objective to instil in younger people habits that enhance the sustainable development of the municipality, reveals a note from the municipality of Pico.

Furthermore, the initiative also sought to raise awareness, in a playful way, of children about the importance of preserving Nature.

Daisies, poppies, lavender and chamomile make up the colourful carpets of wildflowers that will soon make those two spaces, used during the Madalena Festivals, more attractive and sustainable areas.

This fact, adds the municipality, will allow it to restore its flora and attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and wasps, essential for maintaining the balance of ecosystems.

Cleaning of Lagoa das Sete Cidades completed in two weeks. 

Work to restore normality on the banks of Lagoa das Setes Cidades, after the bad weather on August 20, is underway and should be completed in the coming weeks.

The materials accumulated on the banks of Lagoa das Sete Cidades appeared as a result of events on August 20th.

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 13th September 2023

Good morning, we have received several reports of scams this week, one of which a lady in the Algarve receiving a call from an automated line “saying they were the GNR that her ID card had been used in illegal activity and there is a warrant out for her arrest! It asked her to press 1 to be put through to the police. She pressed 1, but the call ID was from Croatia. A man answered in English (who sounded Indian or Pakistani) and asked for her name and postcode whereupon she hung up.

The other involves the following message received by someone on WhatsApp this morning, and being widely shared. It was brought to Safe Communities Portugal’s attention: it states.  “Don’t open anything on What’s App  Called Seismic Waves Car – showing photos of earthquake in Morocco and will pirate your phone in 10 seconds  Nothing can stop it Don’t Open it”

HOWEVER we have researched this and please read the following: The Seismic Wave Card is a hoax, incapable of hacking phones or stealing personal info. The claim that the card can hack phones is false; the card doesn’t exist in reality. The scam message is designed to exploit fears and anxieties; it lacks credibility. This scam relies on exploiting the anxieties and uncertainties of those affected by the earthquake, spreading misinformation and fear. “The assertion that the Moroccan earthquake seismic wave card can hack phones is unequivocally false. This is a baseless rumour circulating online.

It is unthinkable that in a major catastrophe such as this with over two thousands deaths that anyone can get any sort pleasure by spreading misinformation and fear. If you receive this do not share simply delete.

Yesterday Safe Communities Portugal gave a presentation at the Amigos do Museu São Brás de Alportel Coffee Morning kindly organized by Cliff Newton. Attending from Safe Communities were David Thomas President, Jane Thomas and Mike Evans member of the management team. Around 39 people attended and subjects discussed were, crime prevention, on-line scams, rural fires, land cleaning, major disaster preparedness. Great engagement and atmosphere as well as excellent questions. Very nice to see people who attended our events in the area some years ago. We are already discussing joint events for the future.

Now that earthquake disaster is on every social media we remember that each year government conducts a national earthquake awareness exercise.  The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) promotes, usually in November, the national seismic risk awareness exercise, called “A TERRA TREME”. Safe Communities Portugal has supported this each year in a number of ways.

This initiative is part of the activities that form part of the National Strategy for Preventive Civil Protection and aims to empower the population to know how to act before, during and after an earthquake, sensitizing citizens to the fact of living in a risk society, and challenging themselves o to get involved in the process of building safer and more resilient communities. The exercise comprises the practice of 3 simple gestures that can make a difference to those who practice them in the face of an earthquake.

The action takes place during one (1) minute, in which the participants, individually or collectively, are invited to perform the 3 self-protection gestures: DROP, COVER, HOLD. We will be providing more information about this year’s exercise as soon as it becomes available.

Lastly with thunderstorms around and two people struck by lightning a few days ago, a reminder. Use the 30 second rule to determine the threat level of lightning. This rule is simple and consists of counting the seconds between seeing lightning and hearing the thunder. If this value is less than 30 seconds, seek shelter.

During a thunderstorm: Never stay under a tall, isolated tree. Most thunderstorm victims are struck when they seek shelter under a tree; avoid being near trees, communication towers, electricity poles, metal fences, etc; Check that you are not at the highest altitude in the surrounding area. Do not remain isolated on the top of a hill, in an open field, or on the beach, you’ll be the highest point around and may attract lightning for that reason alone. If you are in an open field and you see a possible thunderstorm arriving seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ravine or valley – never lie down in an open field.

Our team art Safe Communities wish you a safe week ahead

News

Portuguese in the EP want more action to combat natural disasters that are a daily occurrence

Strasbourg, September 12, 2023 (Lusa) – Portuguese MEPs insisted today on the need for more investment from the European Union (EU) to prevent natural disasters and dramatized that catastrophic meteorological phenomena are already part of the daily lives of European citizens.

“Every year we regret the fires, the drought, the deaths, the floods”, began by saying the social democrat José Manuel Fernandes, who is part of the political family of the European People’s Party (EPP), during a debate in the European Parliament (PE) in Strasbourg, on the prevention of disasters such as heat waves, floods and forest fires.

“More than words”, continued the MEP, actions are needed and the 27 “are not doing what they are supposed to do”: “We don’t lack money, you have storms of millions.”

And he criticized the socialist Government in Portugal, for rejecting “8,300 million euros for the loan aspect of the Recovery and Resilience Plan [PRR] that it could use”, in the view of José Manuel Fernandes for “forest planning, helping the rural world” and prepare for dry periods with irrigation aid.

Despite criticism of national political decisions, at European level there appears to be consensus on this matter.

Socialist MEP Sara Cerdas, from Socialists & Democrats (S&D), called for “greater preparation” among the 27 and “more effective responses” that can minimize the consequences of increasingly severe meteorological phenomena.

“Extreme heat waves, floods, forest fires are already part of our daily lives”, so he called for more action, quickly.

Communist MEP João Pimenta Lopes, who belongs to the Left in the EP, highlighted the lack of appropriate funding and “support for disaster prevention” which has consequences for most EU citizens.

“Instead, we see the reduction or diversion of cohesion funds and other funds to fuel the profits of, among others, energy and armaments groups,” he added.

Much of the territory of European Union countries has been hit by extreme weather phenomena in recent years. In the last four months, for example, there have been heat waves across the EU, floods and large forest fires that have destroyed homes and ended up causing casualties. 

Tuk-tuk driver caught trafficking drugs at Albufeira Rally

The driver of a tourist motorized tricycle, known as a “tuk-tuk”, was arrested during the Albufeira Rally, after being seen handing over “several packages of cocaine” to another person, the Command said this Tuesday. GNR territory of Faro.

The suspect was arrested in flagrante delicto on a public street last Saturday. In addition to the packages of cocaine, the GNR soldiers patrolling the rally seized 290 euros in cash from the 34-year-old tuk-tuk driver.

The GNR then carried out searches of the same man’s house and vehicle, seizing three more doses of cocaine, 552 doses of hashish and cannabis, and almost 12 thousand euros in cash.

The detainee was brought before the Portimão Judicial Court, where a criminal investigation judge decided to release him, with the obligation to report twice a week to the police station in his area of ​​residence.

 

The Situation Report Azores Wednesday 6th September 2023 

by Chris Noble

Four people helped due to the wave in Fajã do Ouvidor 

Four people had to be helped on Monday in Fajã do Ouvidor, in São Jorge, in the Azores, after allegedly being swept away by a wave, which caused serious injuries to one of the bathers.

According to a statement from the National Maritime Authority, the four people, of Slovak nationality, were “in difficulties in the water” late in the afternoon, in that area of ​​the municipality of Velas.

Upon arrival at the scene, members of the Maritime Police found that the four people had left the water with the help of other members of the group, but it was necessary to transport them to a hospital unit. One of the people “was in a serious condition”, so he was taken to the island of São Miguel, for “differentiated care”.

The island of São Jorge has more than seven dozen fajãs – small plains next to the sea originating from landslides or lava – which have been, since 2016, a Biosphere Reserve of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, its acronym in English), and the most popular places among tourists.

 

Man rescued after falling on a trail on the island of São Miguel 

A Dutchman aged around 30 was rescued on Saturday night in São Miguel, in the Azores, after suffering “a fall while walking on a trail in Mosteiros”, the National Maritime Authority reported today.

In a statement, the National Maritime Authority explained that the alert was received at the end of the day on Saturday, through the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre of Ponta Delgada, stating that the man was “missing on a trail”.

“Searches were immediately launched by members of the Ponta Delgada Maritime Police Local Command, crew members from the Ponta Delgada Life Saving Station and Ponta Delgada Volunteer Firefighters”, reads the same statement.

The man was eventually located by the Ponta Delgada Fire Department team, who found that the victim had suffered a fall and had “an injury to one of his lower limbs”, reveals the National Maritime Authority.

After being rescued by members of the Ponta Delgada Volunteer Fire Department, the man was transported to a hospital unit.

Azores Airlines transports 1 million passengers ahead of schedule for 2023 

The SATA group airline Azores Airlines surpassed “the symbolic mark of one million passengers transported in 2023, around three months before 2022 and the scheduled date for this year”.

“In 2022, Azores Airlines performed, in terms of passengers transported, well above Europe and the rest of the world, according to data from ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization -, showing a variation of 14.5% in 2022 versus 2019 (pre-pandemic year)”, the company said in a statement.

According to the source, “contributing to this consistent increase in demand and preference was the company’s growing effort to offer more destinations and reinforce its capacity in view of 2022”.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 6th September 2023

Good morning, Whereas up to around 10 days all the news was on rural fires there has been a sudden change with the arrival of a “cold air drop”, which lived up to its name especially in Spain.

Portugal was indeed fortunate – this time – but what happened in Madrid for instance and other areas of Spain could easily have taken place in Portugal had the positioning of the air mass slightly different.

On Monday and Tuesday severe storms hit Greece after an extended period of wildfires. The devastation in some areas is considerable with over 600 mm of rain in some parts, extensive flooding and cars being washed out to sea. Yesterday’s map of Europe contrasted this with the well above temperatures in the UK and the emergence of another heatwave for some other parts of Europe.

 It is important to bear this in mind for the future, which is one of the reasons why we post the effects and images of such extreme weather phenomena in other countries, simply because it could happen here and we therefore need to be prepared.

One thing is for sure the situation regarding the frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions is not set to improve, so we really must be aware off the effects and what we can do to reduce the impact on our lives.

 Away from fires and floods we now come to the topic of earthquakes and tsunamis. We have posted on our new Facebook group some information and advice concerning these topics, so people know what to do should this take place. Reminder that Portugal is a moderate risk of earthquakes and although there is little we can do to prevent these, there is much that can be done in preventing the impacts and reducing the loss of life through taking the right action should such a disaster take place.

Coincidentally yesterday there were two small very shallow earthquakes south of the Algarve within 10 hours of each other at 3.9 and 3.7 magnitude respectively. The latter although smaller was felt by more people, being only 35 kilometres from the Algarve coastline.  Being small there were no injuries or damage – BUT what if they had been much larger! Would this have caused damage? Would a Tsunami have resulted? The fact that one of these was at night time when most people were indoors, how would this have impacted on the number of casualties?

These are subject that we may not like to even think about, but we cannot and should not ignore. Knowing what to do in an earthquake and early warning of an approaching tsunami is essential, the latter in particular for those living close to the coastline in certain areas of the Algarve, as well as Cascais and Lisbon. We at Safe Communities will continue to play our role in explaining the risk, but it is up to everyone to be aware of what action to take. In an earthquake “Drop, Cover Hold” and in a tsunami try an immediately move to higher ground.

Turning lastly to the drought situation, as expected there was a drop in water levels in most reservoirs recorded by the National Water Resources Information System at the end of August compared to one month earlier, which is expected in August, but the better news is that the situation has much improved compared to the same month in 2022. However we do need to conserve water as parts of the country are still at severe drought.

So on that slight optimistic note please have a safe week ahead.

News

Vaccination against flu and covid-19 starts on September 29th

Porto, September 5, 2023 (Lusa) – Vaccination against flu and Covid-19 starts “with a bang” on September 29, the executive director of the National Health Service (SNS) announced today.

“The scenario we have on the table is on September 29th to start [with vaccination against influenza and covid-19] with strength and with enormous support from the Portuguese”, said Fernando Araújo at the 2nd Symposium of the World Health Organization Saúde (OMS) dedicated to the digital future, taking place in Porto.

The person in charge, accompanied by the Minister of Health, assumed that vaccination will be “something complex” because it will involve a very wide range of entities from the Ministry of Health.

Vaccination against Covid-19 will take place in health centers simultaneously with the flu, similar to what happened in 2022.

What is new this year is that, for the first time, it will also be possible to administer the vaccine against Covid-19 in community pharmacies that have a vaccine administration service, professionals with specific training in administering vaccines and who express their willingness to participate in the campaign, according to an ordinance published on August 17th in the Diário da República.

These pharmacies will be able to operate longer opening hours, with the list of members available on the websites of the National Health Service, the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) and Infarmed.

According to the ordinance, it will now be up to the DGS to issue the technical guidelines that govern the vaccination process, namely defining the vaccination criteria and eligible users.

Storage Bulletin in Reservoirs in Mainland Portugal – Water volume drops in August compared to July

Lisbon, September 5, 2023 (Lusa) – The volume of water stored decreased in all monitored river basins in Portugal compared to July, according to data from the National Water Resources Information System (SNIRH) for the last day of August. (Left map).  However compared to August 2022 (right map there is a vast improvement)

Of the 60 monitored reservoirs, 11 had water availability greater than 80% of the total volume and 19 less than 40%.

According to SNIRH data available today, at the end of August the Barlavento (8.4%), Sado (21.8%), Arade (28.6%) and Mira (31%) basins had less water availability. 8%).

The Lima basin had the largest volume of water, 86.3% of its capacity, followed by the Douro (79.6%), Cávado (78.7%) and Ave (76.9%).

August 2023 storages by river basin were generally higher than the August storage averages (1990/91 to 2021/22), except for the Sado, Guadiana, Mira, Ribeiras do Algarve and Arade basins.

Each river basin may correspond to more than one reservoir.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 6th September 2023

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all in the region. As l write this report we are experiencing a lot of different weather and climatic occurrences. After the past couple of weeks of very hot temperatures, and the start of some well needed rain, we now have an earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale that was recorded this morning(Tuesday) in the Algarve. The earthquake was registered at 1:49 am, with an epicentre located approximately 100 kilometres south-southwest of Faro , according to the IPMA.  Let’s hope we don’t see a plague of locusts as well!

In all seriousness, the many faces of summer across Southern Europe have seen a number of different scenarios which have included some heavy flooding in Spain and France as well as record temperatures in Greece. Wildfires in many countries are causing massive damage. More than 3.400 firefighters were battling 130 fires in our own country. Temperatures were above 40ºC in some regions of the country, and authorities said wildfire risks would remain “very high or at maximum level across the entire state” over the coming days.

We are also seeing massive flooding in some countries. In Slovenia, which has seen unprecedented storms and flooding, the death toll has climbed to six, police said on Monday, as clean-up operations continued with help from neighbouring countries.

Prime Minister Robert Golob has described the torrential rains and severe flooding that hit the Alpine country of two million as its worst natural disaster since independence three decades ago.

The unusual weather pattern is not just in Southern Europe, The storm “Hans” is forecasted to arrive in Norway Monday afternoon or evening. The rain has already begun, resulting in flooding in a commuter parking lot located outside Oslo. As a consequence, several cars in the lot were submerged underwater due to the flooding of the adjacent riverbed. And, after experiencing a remarkably wet July, Denmark continues to endure weather more reminiscent of autumn than summer. The downpour and storm that started on Sunday first affected the eastern island of Bornholm before reaching the capital city, Copenhagen, on Monday.

Global warming is cited by experts for some of these phenomena but in the case of wildfires especially here in Portugal it is usually as a result of carelessness or people starting fires intentionally. At least the rains we are now experiencing will help keep the wildfires down to a minimum.

Now a look at some of the news from around the region in the past week.

GNR Seizes Weapons and Drugs in 3 Day Operation 

The GNR seized 23 weapons, 16 of which were collectibles, and more than 1,800 doses of drugs in operations carried out in the district of Faro , between Thursday and Sunday, the police corporation revealed this Monday.

Over the last week, the operations also led to the arrest of 91 people, 41 of which were related to driving with excess alcohol in their blood, 18 for drug trafficking and 17 for driving without a legal licence, revealed the GNR in a statement.

At issue were operations to “prevent and combat violent crime, road inspection, among others”, which led to the seizure of 1,372 doses of cocaine, 407 of hashish, 66 of heroin and 41 of cannabis, said the same source, As for weapons, two rifles with telescopic sights and one without sights, a machine gun, a sawed-off shotgun, a pistol, a revolver, two air-pressure rifles and eight collector’s pistols, five collector’s revolvers, a collection and ammunition of various calibres, informed the GNR.

Two arrested for drug trafficking in Quarteira

On Sunday, September 3, the GNR arrested two men aged 27 and 36 for drug trafficking, in Quarteira ( Loulé ), said that security force.

As part of a patrolling action, the GNR soldiers ordered a vehicle to stop “which did not comply with the instructions and fled, with two occupants inside”, the GNR said in a statement.

According to the GNR, steps were taken that allowed, moments later, to locate and intercept one of the individuals. During the action, a personal search and a search of the vehicle were carried out, revealing that one of the men “was in possession of a narcotic product”, namely cocaine, which led to his arrest in flagrante delicto. Police investigations continued and, a few hours later, “the second occupant was located, who was also detained”, details the GNR. The action resulted in the seizure of 1,250 doses of cocaine, two cell phones and 90 euros in cash.

The detainees were made defendants and were present at the Loulé Judicial Court for the application of coercive measures. 

PJ investigates origin and destination of 1.1 tons of hashish seized this week

The Judiciary Police (PJ) is investigating the origin and destination of the 1.1 tons of hashish seized on Friday, the 1st, in the south of Portugal and investigating the connection to international drug trafficking networks of the two detained men.

“We do not know the destination of the approximately 1.1 tons of hashish because we are dealing with groups that operate anywhere, carrying out their risk analysis and, depending on the information on the ground, they unload both in Portugal and in Spain,” said the director of PJ de Faro .

The Portuguese authorities, in a joint action between the National Maritime Authority ( AMN ), the Portuguese Navy and the Air Force, seized 1.1 tons of hashish this morning and detained two men during an action to combat drug trafficking, in international waters, south of Portugal. Speaking to journalists at a press conference at Cais Comercial de Faro, the director of the PJ of Faro said that “the way the drugs are packaged indicates that we are dealing with a different ‘modus operandi’ than these groups”. “These bales have different characteristics from the usual ones”, highlighted Fernando Jordão.

The official added that the PJ “will now carry out investigative actions, namely the exchange of information with other countries, to determine the origin and destination” of the narcotic product. According to Fernando Jordão, the increase in high-speed boats off Portuguese waters “works like a platform, where the opportunity to carry out unloading is awaited, which could be in Portugal or Spain.

According to the commander of the Southern Maritime Zone, Mário Figueiredo, in the operation called “Porta closed” three high-speed vessels were seized, one of which contained 41 bales of hashish and another with around 20 jerrycans of fuel. Of the six boat crew, French, Spanish and Moroccan nationalities, aged between 24 and 48, the authorities detained the two who were on the boat with the drugs, and the rest were identified, said the official.

The operation took place around 80 nautical miles, approximately 148 kilometres south of Portugal, in international waters. An Air Force aircraft, two Navy ships and three high-speed boats participated in the action, one of which was operated by marines. According to that commander, “the boats’ crew tried to escape, but ended up being intercepted by the authorities and were not armed nor did they resist arrest”.

In the opinion of Mário Figueiredo, the increase in seizures of high-speed boats, drugs and arrests of those allegedly involved in drug trafficking, “is due to greater vigilance by the Portuguese authorities, which increases the risk of networks opting to unload the drugs in Portugal” 

Tourist boat with more than 10 crew runs aground in Benagil Cave

A tourist boat, with more than a dozen crew members on board, was stranded inside the   Benagil cave , in Lagoa. The incident happened on the afternoon of Saturday, September 2nd, around 3 pm, during one of the usual tours of the cave.

The National Maritime Authority (AMN) received the alert and sent help but when they arrived, the boat had already been freed with the support of other tourist vessels that were in the area. The episode lasted around 20 minutes and, despite the scare, no one was injured.

The captain of the port of Portimão, Eduardo Pousadas Godinho, issued a notice banning the activity of visiting the caves, in the area under the jurisdiction of this captaincy, between Vale da Lapa beach and Fontainhas beach, in order to “guarantee the safety of these visitors and these activities”, The measure, which came into force at eight am this Sunday, will remain in force for 48 hours.

The closure is related to an “expected worsening of weather conditions” , with wind that can reach 20 knots, around 37 kilometres per hour, and waves up to two metres high.

Last Friday, September 1st, a collision between a maritime tourist vessel and a kayak had already been recorded, resulting in a serious injury. A seven-year-old child who had to be hospitalised with multiple injuries.

The Benagil caves are one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Algarve and, due to the disorderly navigation in that area, accidents are frequent. It is for this reason that access to the geological formation in Lagoa, considered “one of the most incredible natural caves on the planet”, will have stricter rules.

The Government intends to create “a multidisciplinary working group with the mission of establishing the human carrying capacity and determining access conditions” to the site, according to the order published in Diário da República this Wednesday, August 30th.

The objective is to “face the need to protect and prevent risk situations for people’s safety, especially considering the high erosion that has occurred in that area, which requires the definition of rules of use for visitors, to reinforce your safety.”

Three people die following van crash in Vilamoura

A crash near Caminho dos Pinheiros Mandos, in Vilamoura, municipality of Loulé , caused the death of three people this Monday, September 4th. The circumstances under which the mishap occurred are yet to be determined.

According to the Faro District Relief Operations Command, the alert was given at around 1 pm and occurred close to an industrial park. A van somehow crashed into a pine tree in the early afternoon yesterday, near the Industrial Zone of Vilamoura, killing all three occupants.

A GNR source revealed that the three victims were all men aged between 34 and 46 years old. The individuals aged 34 and 46 are Portuguese, the 45 year old man is Brazilian. They were the only occupants of the vehicle.

Emergency services tried to resuscitate the men on arrival, but they were declared dead at the scene.

The GNR , through the Criminal Investigation Center for Road Accidents (NICAV), will investigate the circumstances of the deadly crash, which are unknown at the moment.

Firefighters from Loulé and Albufeira, the Portuguese Red Cross, INEM and GNR were on site , totaling 18 operational personnel.

And finally, A RADAR ON EN125 IS ONE THAT FINES THE MOST IN PORTUGAL

The radar located at km 102 of the EN125 in Faro, in the West-East direction is one of the five radars that have recorded the most infractions in Portugal, according to the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR).

The other four are: the A1 radar, at 188.6 km in Coimbra, heading South-North; the A4 radar, 0.1 km away in Matosinhos, east-west; the A29 radar, 40.9 km away in Vila Nova de Gaia, heading South-North and the A23 radar, 18.6 km away in Vila Nova da Barquinha, heading East-West.

The use of speed cameras is one of the most effective ways of monitoring excessive vehicle speeds. For this purpose, there are different types of radars.

Since Friday, there have been 37 more devices nationwide to control speed, two of which are installed in the Algarve. One in Faro on the EN125-10 and another in Albufeira on the A2. There is, however, a radar that was already operational on EN125, in Faro, which was identified as one of the five in which there are the most infractions nationally.

Until the next time Stay Safe and Keep your Speed Down!

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 30th August 2023

Good morning everyone. Well after a hot and dry period for many parts of the country in recent weeks, which has facilitated an average of some 82 fires a day over the last week alone, there are indications that the weather may change for the better, or worse, depending on your perspective. Better in those areas that need rain, worse if it comes in the form of downbursts that cause flooding and danger to people and property.

Various metrological models have been pointing for several days to the possibility of a situation that would produce instability with showers, thunderstorms, hail and strong gusts of wind throughout the country, in early September. However the weekend of the 2nd/3rd of September is still difficult to predict, due to Hurricane Franklin, a cyclone that will not touch land, but which will move the atmospheric elements and can complicate the forecast.

The “hand-to-hand struggle” between Franklin and the Azores High will be decisive to how the weather will evolve from early September on the mainland. We are monitoring closely.

Sometimes it is easy to become sceptical about weather forecasting, with what was predicted not coming to fruition, but with far improved technology available these days, it has in fact become far more accurate – due mainly to advanced satellites that can produce more information and imaging thus helping metreologists. Clearly the more accurate the information, the quality of the analysis and accuracy of bulletins, and most important timing, can help people prepare and thus reduce the impact of any natural disasters. The above is an example of the challenges they face.

However, one good example a few days ago was the charts and information produced by ESTOFEX the European Storm Warning system, which we published on our new Facebook group on Saturday morning, which gave very detailed indication of developing storms in parts of Europe particularly the Balearic Islands and Sardinia, which the following day came to fruition with storms and large hailstorms that cause considerable damage.

The live lightning site – meteoredpt showed several hours beforehand a huge number of electrical discharges approaching Sardinia. We published this and a few hours later there were high winds storms and considerable damage.

Although this did not impact Portugal these metrological tools are available for anyone to see and one does not need to be a meteorologist to realize the likely impact. The examples of extreme weather are everywhere to be seen and of course is not immune to this. So the moral of all this is to really study the forecasts in particular the wording from organisations such as, ESTROFEX, ECMWF, AMEAT, IPMA, and xxx to name but a few. Forewarned is forearmed. A simple analogy, would you delay getting treatment if all the evidence showed you had an illness – no of course not. The same goes for the forecasting of weather that could cause life threatening results or damage!

Scientists have, however highlighted the difficulty in anticipating extreme weather events, which are, by definition, rare. They argue that weather models are changing very quickly which leaves the world “partly flying blind” towards an increasingly unpredictable future.

July was the hottest month in human history and people across the world are suffering the consequences,” says Professor Piers Forster of the University of Leeds in the UK. “But this is what we would expect at this level of warming. This will be the average summer for 10 years unless the world cooperates and puts climate action at the top of the agenda.”

We are much more vulnerable than we thought. Our vulnerability is slapping us in the face” warn experts who make it clear, once again, that urgent pro-climate action is needed. From high temperatures to sudden torrential downpours, from wildfires to drought, “crazy” extreme weather conditions are just the “tip of the iceberg”, warn scientists.

Within a decade – if there is no strong climate strategy – the extreme weather events of 2023 will become the new normal, the world’s leading climate researchers told the British publication the Guardian, which asked them for an assessment of the climate crisis. See report in full below.

A sobering thought to end this introduction

Welcome back to Susan (website and our Northern Facebook group) from her well-deserved break.

Have a good week ahead.

News

Radical change is needed to reduce ‘crazy’ weather conditions, scientists warn

Torrential rains triggered flash floods in Aurdal, Norway, August 2023

The “crazy” episodes that the planet is already facing are just the “tip of the iceberg” compared to the “even worse effects that are yet to come”, they claim.

Scientists highlighted the difficulty in anticipating extreme weather events, which are, by definition, rare. They argue that weather models are changing very quickly which leaves the world “partly flying blind” towards an increasingly unpredictable future.

“July was the hottest month in human history and people across the world are suffering the consequences,” says Professor Piers Forster of the University of Leeds in the UK. “But this is what we would expect at this level of warming. This will be the average summer for 10 years unless the world cooperates and puts climate action at the top of the agenda.”

“The impacts are frighteningly more shocking than I – and many climate scientists I know – expected,” stresses Professor Krishna AchutaRao of the Indian Institute of Technology.

Christophe Cassou, CNRS researcher at Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III in France, adds that “changes in [climate] risks have not been underestimated on a global scale. But the impacts, yes, were underestimated because we are much more vulnerable than we thought – our vulnerability is slapping us in the face”.

In 2023, temperatures are at historic highs and wildfires continue to devour millions of hectares of forest around the world, from North America to Europe and Asia. That’s why “we now feel that climate change is emerging above the normal climate” says Cassou.

Has the turning point already happened?

Scientists believe that the planet has not yet passed the tipping point for runaway climate change. But Rein Haarsma, of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, warns that that moment is approaching. “The extremes we see happening now could induce tipping points, such as the collapse of the Atlantic meridional circulation and the melting of the Antarctic ice sheets, which have devastating impacts.”

However, scientists say that a “small window” of opportunity remains open to avoid the worst of the climate crisis, and they point the finger at the use of fossil fuels.

“We need to stop burning fossil fuels”, reiterates Friederike Otto, from Imperial College London. He says it is imperative: “Now. This is not a time to allow companies to continue to make as much money as possible”.

Also joined by the critical voice of Emily Shuckburgh, from the University of Cambridge, UK: “Anyone who in any way perpetuates the fossil fuel age is firmly on the wrong side of history”.

“Knowing that we will look back on today’s extreme events as soft on what’s in our future is truly alarming,” adds Andrea Dutton of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. And she leaves a clear message: “The speed with which we make this transition will define the future we will have.”

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 30th August 2023

Navy assists drifting fishing vessel 

The Navy coordinated, on Monday, the monitoring of a fishing vessel that was adrift about 200 meters from the coast of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, in the Azores.

According to the Navy, the local fishing vessel Maria Esperança, with three elements on board, lost “the propulsion capacity to return to land, drifting about 200 meters from the coast, near Ponta Delgada” .

The vessel was supported by the speedboat of the Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos N. Sra. Boa Viagem and the speedboat of the Maritime Police Roaz, having docked in the port of Ponta Delgada at 17:08 local time.

Man arrested for the crime of homicide in São Miguel 

The Judiciary Police, through the Department of Criminal Investigation of the Azores, arrested a man, for strong indications of the commission of the crime of homicide, in the attempted form, which occurred in the city of Ribeira Grande, last Wednesday, the 23rd of August.

According to a statement from the Judiciary Police, the crime was committed as part of a discussion, “motivated by the dissemination, through social networks, of defamatory images, published by the victim and aimed at the aggressor”.

In the course of the altercation, the “victim was attacked, using a cutting-piercing instrument, in various regions of the torso”.

Considering the location of the body, the multiple wounds produced endangered the life of the 40-year-old victim.

The detainee, aged 30, was presented to the competent judicial authorities, having been applied, among others, the coercive measures prohibiting him from approaching the victim and from periodic presentations, to the criminal police body of the area of ​​residence.

Three seriously injured in stage fall at Whaling Week 

Three people were seriously injured, on Sunday night, due to the fall of the roof of the main stage of the Whaling Week, the biggest celebrations in the municipality of Lajes do Pico, in the Azores, revealed a source from Civil Protection.

According to the communication office of the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores, the three injured were initially transported by ambulance to the Health Centre of Lajes do Pico and later sent to Hospital da Horta, on the neighbouring island of Faial.

According to witnesses at the site, the structure collapsed due to the strong wind that was felt on Sunday, the last day of the festivities, in honour of Senhora de Lourdes, patroness of whalers.

The witnesses added that the tragedy was only not greater because the accident occurred minutes before about half a hundred musicians from the Wind Orchestra of the Municipality of Lajes, who were going to perform together with Mimo’s Dixie Band, took to the stage.

Roberto Silva, former mayor of Lajes do Pico and father of a young man who was preparing to perform in the municipal orchestra, blames the executive for “ignoring” the warnings about the location of the main stage of the parties, which he considers having been too exposed to prevailing winds.

“The successive warnings, already in 2022, that the new location of the main stage of the Whaling Week was at serious risk of collapse, due to exposure to the winds, were completely ignored and neglected”, lamented the former socialist mayor, recalling that, in the last year, “the stage was dragged by the wind, endangering the lives of the people who performed and the hundreds of spectators who watched”.

The Lusa agency sought to obtain information from the municipality, but no member of the municipal executive, chaired by the socialist Ana Brum, was available to speak to journalists.

Originating in the 19th century, the feast in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes begins on the last Sunday in August and lasts for a week, including, in addition to religious ceremonies, various cultural activities linked to the ancient activity of whaling.