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Situation Reports news and reviews

 

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.

 

The Algarve Situation Report 30 August 2023

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all and especially those who may be reading this report for the first time. Safe Communities Portugal publish information every week on what has been happening across the country as well as in Madeira. We concentrate mainly on subjects that are to do with our remit, that is safety and security and civil protection.

As the month of August draws to a close a large number of domestic tourists from the North of Portugal make their way home after their annual visit to the Algarve. We see the roads around the region are very busy which is a major cause of accidents, with people wanting to get home and not thinking about theirs and others safety. There have been a number of road traffic accidents across the Algarve which  unfortunately resulted in deaths and injuries.

As a region we have been somewhat lucky with the lack of fires and we can but hope that this trend continues although there was a big fire in the , the bombeiros were able to get it under control after 6 hours. The service these men and women provide is fantastic and we should not forget that many of them are part time or volunteers. Our thanks go to all of them at this time.

Now let’s see what has been happening across the Algarve in the past week.

Worker dies and Another Injured at a Construction Site in Aljezur

A civil construction worker died on Wednesday, August 23, following the collapse of a wall at the construction site he was working on in Bordeira , in Aljezur , according to the Regional Command for Emergency and Civil Protection.

A source from this organisation said today that the death of the victim, aged 34, was declared by the doctor from the helicopter of the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) that was sent to the place.

The same source added that another 24-year-old worker was “seriously injured” in the accident, who was transferred by helicopter to Faro Hospital. The alert for this occurrence was given at 4:24 pm on Wednesday and there were also eight vehicles with a total of 24 operatives from the Aljezur Firefighters, INEM, the National Republican Guard (GNR), the Civil Protection Service and of the Authority for Working Conditions (ACT).

Tourist  Dies after feeling ill at Praia do Coelho

A 40-year-old man from Seville died on Saturday, August 26, at Praia do Coelho , in Monte Gordo, after feeling sick on the beach, according to Arenilha TV.

The alert was given by the lifeguard at 15:15, with the victim, with a history of epilepsy, having been ventilated with material from that pariah concession.

Before the arrival of elements from the “SeaWatch” project and INEM, the man went into cardiac arrest and was transported to the Basic Emergency Service of Vila Real de Santo António , where he died after several resuscitation manoeuvres.

Man of 27 Arrested in Lagos for Burglary

The PSP detained a 27-year-old individual for committing crimes of theft inside residences, the Faro District Command of the PSP advanced this Monday.

“Yesterday, after learning of yet another theft from a house, in the Porto de Mós area, in Lagos, where items in gold worth 56,000.00 euros were subtracted, the PSP in Lagos carried out immediate investigations, culminating in the acquisition of evidence that allowed the suspect to be intercepted and detained”, says the PSP in a statement.

Most of the articles from were recovered by the police, as well as “articles from other offences of the same nature, which occurred essentially in houses in the city of Lagos”, continues the note.The detainee is indicted for the commission of five crimes of aggravated theft and five other identical crimes in the attempted form. According to the PSP, he will be present before the Judicial Authority for the application of coercive measures considered appropriate while awaiting trial.

Young Woman Rescued after Fainting near João de Arens Beach

An 18-year-old girl was rescued near Praia de João de Arens, in the municipality of Portimão , with no access by land, after suffering a power outage and fainting, announced the National Maritime Authority.

The alert was given at 15:57 by a crew member of a local vessel, with members of the Maritime Police, from the “SeaWatch” project, the coordinator of the lifeguards of the beach support of Alvor and Rocha having immediately moved to the place . , the Portimão Volunteer Firefighters and the Portuguese Red Cross.

This young woman was later transported by sea to a Red Cross ambulance, which sent her to a hospital unit.

Traffic Altercation leads to the Death of a 44-year-old man in Quarteira

A 44-year-old man died on Monday, the 28th, following a traffic disagreement that resulted in aggression and that involved two other people, in Quarteira, said a source from the GNR.

The incident took place in Quarteira, in the municipality of Loulé , at 8:30 pm, said a source from the general command of the GNR.

The attacks arose as a result of a traffic disagreement between two individuals who crossed the crosswalk and an individual who was riding a motorcycle, added the same source, without specifying further details while the investigation takes place. The victim, a 44-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene by rescue teams.

The Judiciary Police was called to the scene to carry out the steps, the GNR source also explained .

Man Arrested for Armed Robbery in Albufeira

A 22-year-old man was arrested on August 24 for robbery with a knife in the municipality of Albufeira , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).

The arrest was made by the Territorial Command of Faro, through the Territorial Sub-detachment of Albufeira, following a report of the theft of two men aged 19 and 20.

These two men were also threatened with a knife and after police investigations it was possible to locate the suspect, recover 30 euros in cash and seize a knife. Three defendants aged 21, 23 and 25 were also named, who are suspected of being involved in these robberies.

The detainee was present at the Judicial Court of Albufeira the following day and the coercion measure of weekly appearances at the police station in his area of ​​residence was applied to him.

Preventive Arrest for Man who Robbed Restaurant in Albufeira

A 21-year-old man was remanded in custody for stealing from a restaurant in the municipality of Albufeira on August 24, announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).

The arrest was made by the Territorial Command of Faro , through the Territorial Sub-detachment of Albufeira.

After a complaint that a man had broken into a window and entered a restaurant, the Guard’s military found the suspect’s location and proceeded to arrest him in the act, when the individual left the place. During the action, 53 euros in cash, two mobile phones and a knife were seized.

The detainee, who has a criminal record, was present at the Judicial Court of Albufeira.

And Finally we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of GNR, Corporal Nuno Policarpo who sadly passed away following a road traffic accident in Loule on the 26th August. Nuno Policarpo was 47 years old and was born in Nisa. A Member of the National Republican Guard, he served in the Community Policing Section of the Territorial Detachment of Loulé. 

In a statement released on Sunday, the 27th, the Municipality of Loulé publicly expresses “its deep regret, The disappearance of this young GNR soldier, on a night of celebration and joy for tens of thousands of people, shocks us and makes us appreciate even more the importance of the work of the security forces”, can be read in a statement.

“To the family and the National Republican Guard, the Municipality of Loulé sends its most sincere condolences for the loss of a professional who cared for the safety and well-being of our community throughout his life”, ends the note. From all of the volunteers at Safe Communities Portugal we also extend our sincere condolences.

 

 

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 23 August 2023

 

by Mike Evans

A very warm welcome to you all as we sit in a very hot period of weather and hope everyone is mindful of the need to keep hydrated and to be especially vigil to the issue of wildfires.

As I am writing this report the Algarve has 10 municipalities at the maximum risk of fires and with the winds we get at this time of year it doesn’t take much to get a small fire to turn into a large blaze.

On our Facebook pages we publish daily the latest information from the IPMA regarding the weather, as well as the fire hazard tables for every region and municipality in the Algarve. If you have not already seen this information I would implore you to take a look.

Let’s take a look at what has been happening across the region in the past week concerning our remit of safety and security.

Man Arrested after Stabbing In Lagoa

A man was arrested on suspicion of having committed two crimes of attempted homicide on Monday night, August 21, in Lagoa , announced the Judiciary Police.

The arrest was made by the Judiciary Police, through the DIC of Portimão , after the alleged aggressor became involved in an argument with the owner of a café.

The woman wanted to close the establishment and refused to serve more drinks to the suspect, who started the discussion, which was interrupted by two customers who were nearby and who ended up being stabbed in the chest area. The suspect, aged 54, fled but was eventually located with the collaboration of the National Republican Guard of Lagoa, and will be present at the first judicial interrogation for the application of coercive measures.

The two victims were admitted to a hospital.

Man Arrested for Burglaries  in Albufeira  County

A 21-year-old man was arrested on Friday, August 18, for theft from homes in the municipality of Albufeira , announced the National Republican Guard.

The arrest was made by the Faro Territorial Command , through the Territorial Sub-detachment of Albufeira, following a report of a fire in a house. The military, at the scene, verified that there had been a theft of several articles inside two residences through break-in.After the police investigations, the suspect was located in possession of the stolen items, having recovered a mobile phone, a pair of headphones (Airpods), a wallet with documents, a shirt and two wallets.

The detainee was present the day after the Judicial Court of Portimão, with application of the coercion measure of biweekly presentations in his area of ​​residence.

Two Arrested for Car Theft  in Aljezur and Vila do Bispo

Two men aged 36 and 49 were arrested on Wednesday, August 16, for theft from a vehicle in the municipalities of Aljezur and Vila do Bispo , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR). The arrest was made by the Territorial Command of Faro, through the Núcleo de Investigação Criminal de Portimão, following a complaint.

The thefts were carried out in car parks, with the suspects detained after police investigations, with an iPad, a speaker, two power banks, two pairs of earphones, two bracelets, two pairs of glasses, two pairs of gloves, two mobile phones and 645 euros in cash. The detainees will be present at the Judicial Court of Lagos for the application of coercive measures during today.

The action had the reinforcement of the soldiers from the Territorial Post of Vila do Bispo.

Man Rescued After Falling on Rocks at Molhe Beach

A 45-year-old man was rescued during the afternoon of Thursday, August 17, after an accidental fall on the rocks at Praia do Molhe, in Ferragudo, in the municipality of Lagoa, announced the National Maritime Authority.

The alert was given at 18:52 by the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, with elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Portimão, the Lifeguard Station of Ferragudo, the Firefighters Volunteers from Lagoa and INEM.

The victim, of Spanish nationality, had a serious injury to his right leg, in the ankle area, and was transported to a hospital after being rescued from an area of ​​difficult access.The Portimão Maritime Police Local Command took care of the occurrence.

Body of Missing Man From Santa Luzia found in Perogil

The body of Quévin Andre Protseko, who had been missing for a month, was found on Thursday, August 17, in Perogil , in the municipality of Tavira , according to Correio da Manhã. The corpse of the 21-year-old was in a high state of decomposition and was discovered by the Judiciary Police, next to a crane, with marks of a fall of several metres.

The parents of the Computer Engineering student at the University of Algarve have already been notified and there are no signs of crime.During the investigations, around 200 pages were found on Quévin Protseko’s computer, written by himself.

His mobile phone had already been located by the local authorities two weeks ago, and it was discovered that before the disappearance, the young man who lived in Santa Luzia had withdrawn all the money from his bank account.

Pleasure Craft Runs Aground on Ilha Deserta

A pleasure craft with 12 crew ran aground west of the Faro -Olhão bar on the night of Wednesday, August 17th, in a strip of sand on Ilha Deserta , announced the National Maritime Authority.

The alert was given at 02:02 by the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, with elements from the Faro Maritime Police Local Command and the Olhão Lifeguard Station having been immediately activated.

Eleven crew members were sent ashore to the pier on Ilha da Deserta, where they were rescued by members of the Maritime Police, who verified that they were in good physical condition and did not require medical assistance.The crew were later transported to another pleasure boat, which took them to the Vilamoura marina.

The owner of the damaged vessel was notified to present a removal plan and the Faro Maritime Police Local Command took care of the occurrence.

GNR Detains Man who had a Woman Locked in his House

A 62-year-old man who had kidnapped a woman, after threatening her family, was arrested in the municipality of Loulé , reported the GNR.

In a statement, the GNR explains that the detention took place after a complaint about a woman who was locked in a house, and the military found that “the suspect had already threatened the victim’s family with a firearm and that the victim was kidnapped in the suspect’s residence.

In a house search of the suspect’s house, which culminated in his arrest, a shotgun, two compressed air guns and various ammunition of various calibres were seized.According to the GNR, the detainee is being held at the premises of this security force, waiting to be presented to the Judicial Court of Loulé for the application of coercive measures.

Boat capsizes with 14 tourists on board in Lagoa

A tourist vessel that made the usual trips through the caves on the coast of Lagos, in the Carvoeiro area , capsized on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 15th, with 16 people on board (14 tourists and two crew). There are no injuries to report.

According to the news provided by Correio da Manhã, the incident took place inside a cave between the Farol de Alfanzina and Benagil, in the municipality of Lagoa.

Among the 14 passengers on board were eight tourists of French nationality, six Spanish, including children between two and six years old.The Ferragudo lifeguard station, with the support of another maritime tourist vessel, proceeded to rescue all the passengers, said the same source.

As the commander of the Captaincy of Portimão , Eduardo Pousadas Godinho, described to Correia da Manhã, “the vessel capsized and people stayed inside the cave. The reaction was very fast and allowed us to rescue all the people without injuries”.

 

Police Crackdown Results in 95 Arrests across the Algarve

95 people were arrested, more than 500 doses of drugs were seized and 735 traffic offences detected over a week in the Algarve by the GNR police. Between the 7th and 13th of August, 44 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, 17 for driving without legal authorization and 16 for drug trafficking.

During this period, 297 doses of hashish, 236 doses of heroin, 21 doses of cocaine, three knives, two of them with automatic openings, two mobile phones, an alarm pistol, a defence aerosol, an electric gun and several counterfeit articles of brands were seized of footwear and fashion accessories.

In traffic, 735 infractions were detected: 354 for speeding, 29 related to anomalies in the lighting and signalling systems, 28 for lack of mandatory periodic inspection, 26 for improper use of the mobile phone while driving, 19 for lack or incorrect use of the seat belt and/or child restraint system and 14 for lack of civil liability insurance.

Last week, 230 accidents were recorded, resulting in two deaths, one seriously injured and 48 slightly injured.

Let’s all stay safe whether on the roads, on the beach or just in private pools. Until the next time..

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 23rd August 2023.

 

From floods in Chili, British Colombia, to wild fire in Greece, Tenerife and Canada to name but a few, it appears that we are seeing the impacts of extreme weather from many different countries at present.

We have been covering some of these events mainly in our Safe Communities Portugal Protection against Natural Disasters Group, as it is important to remember that these event do not stop at national borders or within regions, so the weather conditions say in the USA or Canada can be replicated elsewhere including Portugal. What can make a difference however is the risk reduction measures that are in place and how that can reduce the impact, such as the number of casualties. An example I would give of this is the reduction in risk by the cleaning of land, and how that helps reduce fires reaching properties.

Simple things like understanding more about the risk of fires, how they can burn with greater intensity and how they spread, are all things that we should be more aware off, simply because that means we are more prepared and can take the appropriate action accordingly. It is also important that children are aware so they themselves can see the warning signs, perhaps ahead of their parents.

When travelling overseas it is important to also be aware of the risks, and the contact points in case of emergencies. Put this on the check list before you go on holiday and if you are staying in a rural property ensure that it affords some protection from fires.

In the case of rural fires in Portugal there have been xx over the last xx days, which are facilitated by weather extremes but nearly all have a human cause, as the minister of International administration said yesterday, over two thirds of these are caused by negligence; namely not following the rules that are in place.

In response to the recent fires, 300 more operatives have been made available and pair of amphibious Fire Boss aircrafts – will be, until October 31st, pre-positioned in Portugal, in Castelo Branco.

We are now in a heatwave that will last for the next few days and on Mondays 33 weather stations registered temperatures of over 40C, increasing to xx yesterday. Of course it is much hotter in the sun, so everyone needs to be careful by not over exercising, and in particular those who undertake physical work outdoors. Take regular beaks, try and work in shaded areas if possible and of course drink water regularly 1.5 litres a day recommended by the health authority, to avoid dehydration.  Most important is care of young children and avoiding direct exposure to the sun.

Communicating key messages about being prepared is extremely important and I would like to that Owen Gee KissFm for allowing us air time on Sunday mornings to do precisely this. Feed-back is very positive and I hope that people have become more Fire Wise, in part, from listening to the advice given. We are now in our 13th year on Solid Gold Sunday and we thank those for listening in.

I mentioned earlier our new Facebook group and am pleased to announce as of this morning we have no less than 2000 members in a period of just 45 days since it was launched! Our Safe Communities team are delighted with this response as apart from the numbers, members are showing great interest in the subject of preparedness, which is the key message that government is trying to get across at present. Also encouraging is members sharing their own experiences and knowledge which is fundamental in developing greater resilience to natural hazards. So a big thank you.

Our team wishes you a good week ahead.

News:

Fire caused damage of 5.5 ME and destroyed 5,315 hectares in Proença-a-Nova

Proença-a-Nova, Castelo Branco, 22 Aug 2023 (Lusa) – The fire that broke out on the 4th in the municipality of Castelo Branco and which progressed to Proença-a-Nova caused damages of 5.5 million euros in the latter municipality and destroyed 5,315 hectares of forest.

“Despite all the work we have done, this fire affected an area of ​​5,315 hectares which, after a survey carried out by the municipal services, totaled damages worth 5,550,297 euros”, announced the mayor of Proença-a- New, Joao Lobo.

According to this mayor of the Castelo Branco district, the calculated value is divided into three fundamental areas: needs for post-fire emergency stabilization interventions – 2,683,576 euros, plus intervention on paved roads – 1,696,448 euros.

The affected municipal equipment totals 169,306 euros and private property, 1,000,966 euros.

For now, the executive informed the Chamber, on Monday, of the 6th Amendment to the Budget and Major Options of the Plan, “a new item having been created for immediate support to the population in the amount of 90 thousand euros”.

The municipal executive also announced that he will send the request for support to the Government to operationalize all the expenses presented.

Among the losses, there is the investment necessary to recover the affected infrastructure, to control erosion, to treat and protect slopes, to prevent contamination and silting and to recover water lines.

Public infrastructure, such as signs for pedestrian routes, enduro tracks, hang gliding tracks, via ferrata, road signs, containment of damage to biodiversity and private property, including animals, fruit trees, irrigation pipes , haystacks and agricultural attachments, utensils, agricultural tools and machinery, animal feed are also accounted for.

João Lobo highlighted the importance of cleaning the 100 meters of the protection strip for population settlements and the pioneering spirit of the municipality of Proença-a-Nova in creating regulations for the conversion of forest areas into agricultural areas in 2018, for fuel management areas in the 100 meters around the population centers.

Currently, the municipality has carried out eight interventions of “Condomínios de Aldeia” and has a further eight operations in the pipeline.

“We still have approved four AIGP (Integrated Landscape Management Areas), which total an area of ​​about 7,200 hectares”, underlined the mayor.

The fire that broke out on the 4th in the municipality of Castelo Branco progressed to the municipality of Proença-a-Nova and entered the resolution phase after two days.

According to the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), the rural fires registered in Odemira and Castelo Branco in early August represent more than half of the total area burned in Portugal in 2023.

According to the most recent statistics from the ICNF, which account for the first half of August, Portugal has registered since January 1 of this year 27,802 hectares of burned area and 6,085 rural fires, which translates into the second lowest value in number of fires and fourth in terms of area burned since 2013.

The fire that broke out in São Teotónio, in the municipality of Odemira, on August 5, is the biggest recorded in Portugal this year, consuming at least 7,530 hectares of land, while the fire registered in Sarzedas, municipality of Castelo Branco, also this month, led to a total of 6,553 hectares of burned area.