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Azores Situation Report Wednesday 16th August 2023

 

From our correspondent in Azores

Azores to control excess of protected birds that are plague for agriculture.

The Government of the Azores hopes to have a plan to combat pests operational by the end of the month, warning that there is an “excess” population of protected birds that are causing damage to farmers.

“We are not against protected birds. What we want is for there to be a population in balance with what the experience of the agricultural economy is like. Currently, there is an excess of these protected birds. I’m talking about the blackbird, wood pigeon and collared turtledove”, said the secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development.

António Ventura warned that those animals are “economically affecting” many local productions in the areas of horticulture, winemaking and maize.

“It is our idea that at the end of August we can have an opening and an authorization so that the excess population can be corrected”, he stressed.

He stressed that the increase in the population of the woodpecker, collared turtledove and blackbird is “dispelling other species of birds that are disappearing”.

Swiss tourist missing on trail in Ribeira Quente

After exhausting all possible steps, after searches carried out by air, sea and land, the case was forwarded to the Public Ministry, which will assess the need to involve the Judiciary Police.

A 27-year-old man of Swiss nationality who was visiting the island of São Miguel has been missing since the 15th of July.

According to the Public Security Police (PSP), in the last communication with the family, the man indicated that he was on a pedestrian trail in the Ribeira Quente area, leading to “diligence being undertaken to try to locate” the missing tourist.

The spokesperson for the Regional Command of the Azores said, that considering that there are several trails there, “the entire area has been the target of searches during the last few days, which, unfortunately, were unsuccessful”.

For this reason, “when all possible steps have been exhausted”, explains Eurico Machado, the case was forwarded to the Public Ministry, which will decide “what the course of the process and subsequent steps to be taken”, and the case may pass to the Police. Judiciary.

The deputy commissioner also adds that, in addition to the PSP, the searches for this tourist were supported by the Povoação Volunteer Firefighters, who focused on the various existing trails and in the neighbouring parishes of Ribeira Quente, as well as the Maritime Police, who carried out searches in the coastline, “a possibility that cannot be ruled out”.
In the case of the PSP, he adds, the use of dogs and a drone was used, which, as a rule, “is a very useful and effective tool in occurrences of this nature”.

Among the main difficulties in the searches, explains Eurico Machado, is the fact that it is not possible to “precisely place” where the man disappeared, knowing only that it was “on a trail in Ribeira Quente”. Another difficulty relates to the fact that the missing young man’s mobile phone is turned off, making it impossible to contact him.

Regarding the characterization of the area, the spokesman for the Regional Command of the Azores indicates that, if the missing man had remained on the trail, he would not represent a danger. However, “people have a tendency to deviate from the route and then, it can become dangerous”.

The PSP also warns the population that “the competent authorities should work to find the missing man”, because “only the authorities with competence in this matter can and should take steps, under penalty of danger to other citizens”.

 

 

The Algarve Report Wednesday 16 August 2023

 

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all and with the region being awash with tourists from across Europe and beyond it is right that we start this report with the news that in the first 6 months of the year 60 people have died as a result of drowning, across the whole country, according to the Portuguese Federation of Lifeguards ( FEPONS ), noting that, despite the decrease in cases compared to the same period last year, the figures are still high.

In a statement, FEPONS cites figures from the Drowning Observatory to indicate that, despite a reduction compared to the same period last year (68 deaths), it was still higher than the average of the last six years (56 deaths). According to the report by the Drowning Observatory, 51 of the people who drowned in the first six months of the year were men and more than half (57.4%) were over 40 years old.

According to the document, 16 cases occurred in April, 12 in June and 10 in January and only one case occurred in a guarded area. FEPONS also points out that 36 (60.7%) drownings occurred in the afternoon, 25 at sea, 21 in the river, four in domestic swimming pools, three in dams, another three in harbours/marinas and two in wells.

It adds that 11 cases occurred during leisurely bathing, four due to falling vehicles into the water, two during recreational fishing with a rod, two during recreational fishing with nets and others in cleaning tasks at the site. As for geographical distribution, 10 cases (16.4%) occurred in the district of Faro , eight (13.1%) in Lisbon, eight (13.1%) in Leiria, seven (11.5%) in Setúbal and six (9.8%) in Porto.

Many tourists who come to the Algarve do not expect the water to be as cold as it is and this is in part one of the reasons why there are these such incidents. With a number of beaches having no Lifeguards present this is shown to be another factor. We can all help by keeping an eye out when on the beach for anyone who may be in difficulty especially if bathing on an unattended Lifeguard beach.

Now let’s take a look at what else has been happening around the Algarve region in the past week.

Man dies after falling ill in water on unguarded beach

A 49-year-old man, of French nationality, died in the late afternoon of Sunday, August 13, after allegedly having suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest while bathing in an unsupervised area between Vale do Lobo beach and Praia de Loulé Velho, indicated AMN.

Following an alert received at 6:45 pm, via the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisbon), informing that a person had gotten into difficulty in the water on an unsupervised beach, “they immediately went to the local elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Faro, INEM, lifeguards from the assistance device for bathers of the Municipality of Loulé and the Red Cross of Faro”, says the National Maritime Authority (AMN) in a statement.

The man was removed from the water “by bathers” who were at the scene, after allegedly feeling bad while bathing, having suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest. The man was assisted at the scene by lifeguards until the arrival of INEM, who continued the resuscitation manoeuvres, “it was not possible to reverse the situation”, said the report. The death was declared “on the spot by the INEM doctor, and the victim was later transported to the Instituto de Medicina Legal de Faro by the Cruz Vermelha de Faro”, he details.

The Maritime Police Psychology Office has been activated and is providing “support to the victim’s relatives”. The Faro Maritime Police Local Command took care of the occurrence.

Lifeguard station rescues missing man in Olhão

The crew of the Lifeguard Station in Olhão rescued a 73-year-old man of French nationality on the afternoon of this Monday, the 14th, who had disappeared after leaving the Cavacos beach in Olhão by kayak.

Following an alert received at 4:00 p.m. by the victim’s wife, informing her that her husband had left Cavacos beach in a kayak at 2:15 p.m. and had still not returned, “the crew of the Olhão Lifeguard Station were immediately activated. to carry out searches between Armona and Fuseta”, says AMN in a statement.

‘SeaWatch’ elements have been enabled to perform land searches. The crew of the Salva-vidas Station detected the man at 4:25 pm between Cavacos beach and Fuseta, having found that he was “tired and having difficulty returning to land due to the strong wind, with no need for medical assistance”, details the note. . The man was later rescued to the Lifeguard Station in Olhão, where he arrived safely.

Cyclist dies in an accident in Alcoutim

Cyclist José Ricardo Viegas, aged 40, died on Saturday, August 12, in Alcoutim , in an accident involving a truck, according to the Jopelor Cycling Academy, where he was an athlete.

Born in Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo , in the municipality of Tavira, Zé Ricardo, as he was known, lost his life at the scene of the accident while riding his bicycle, which was his passion.

11 people arrested during inspection in the municipality

 Eleven people aged between 19 and 65 were arrested on Friday, August 11, during an operation to combat crime in the municipality of Albufeira , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).

The arrests were made by the Territorial Command of Faro, through the Territorial Sub-detachment of Albufeira, in various places in the municipality, for the crimes of drug trafficking (seven), driving under the influence of alcohol (two), possession of a prohibited weapon (one) and aggravated threat (one).

During the police investigations, two razors were seized, an alarm gun, 40 rounds of ammunition, a defence aerosol, an electric gun, 65 doses of hashish, 59 doses of MDMA, 24 doses of cocaine, a knife with traces of hashish and 20 euros in cash. Four nightlife establishments were also inspected, which resulted in the drawing up of nine administrative offence notices, while in the road area, 12 were drawn up. The facts were sent to the Judicial Court of Albufeira.

Man Arrested for stealing a car from the Câmara de Albufeira

A 21-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, August 9, after having stolen an Albufeira City Council car that he was driving in Olhão , announced the Public Security Police (PSP).

The arrest was made by the Faro District Command of the PSP, through the Olhão Police Station, in collaboration with the National Republican Guard, after the goods vehicle was circulating in the city of Olhão.

A police device was set up to intercept the vehicle and the suspect, using the GPS tracking system of the stolen car, and the person responsible was arrested. The stolen vehicle had several tools and machinery worth approximately 11 thousand euros, which were also recovered.

The detainee was notified to appear before the Public Ministry this Thursday, August 10th.

Video surveillance in Olhão and Portimão to be reinforced

The Ministry of Internal Affairs authorised the reinforcement of video surveillance systems in Olhão and Portimão, it was announced today.

By order of the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, published today, 11th August in Diário da República , it can be read that “the video surveillance system in the municipality of Olhão, which had 26 cameras, is renewed for three years, and the installation of another 41 is authorised , in a total of 67 chambers”.

In the case of Portimão, the renewal is for the same period, “a total of 42 video surveillance cameras (there were 26 before) in 29 locations in the municipality”, says the note.

Finally as we are in the Fire Season, please follow our Facebook page for any information regarding fires and preventative measures we should all be aware of at this time of year.

Have a good and peaceful week.

 

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 16th August 2023

 

Good morning, something that has been troubling me over the last week is what led to the devastating rural fire in Maui, Hawaii, resulting in a death toll of 106 and at least 1300 missing. Not only could this turn out to be the largest death toll from a rural fire in the US in last 100 years as stated, but one of the worlds greatest disasters from a rural fire.

resulting in a death toll of around one hundred but almost certainly to increase much higher.

Following this the Minister of Internal Administration sent a very clear message on Monday that Portugal must be prepared for “extreme fires” like those that occurred in Hawaii and Canada.

José Luís Carneiro recalls that this year “we have the greatest number of resources ever”, but stresses that responsible behaviour on the part of the population is also needed. What in effect the Minister is saying that the fires may well be intense, not necessarily the same impact provided everyone is aware of the hazards and is prepared accordingly. The minister stressed that we are still in the middle of the critical period of fires and admits that this year “adverse conditions could last until the end of September, mid-October”.

Turning to the Maui fires, brush fires were already burning on 9th August. Those fires were stoked on Wednesday by a combination of low humidity and strong mountain winds, brought by Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm hundreds of miles to the south in the Pacific Ocean. No cause for the fire has yet been determined, but experts said one possibility was that active power lines that fell in high winds ignited the wildfire that ultimately spread to Lahaina.

This is the worst fire in terms of fatalities in over one hundred years in US territory. Although the focus is now very much on recovery, there are inevitable questions on what many residents are stating that there was a lack of warning. Fires as we know can occur any time, but one of the most important aspects of preparedness is knowing what the fire hazards are at the time and place.

In the case of Maui what has been reported is that at the time of the fire most of the island was experiencing worsening drought conditions in recent weeks which probably also contributed to the fire. Nearly 16 percent of Maui County was in a severe drought on Tuesday, according to the U.S. NOAA have daily Watches, Warnings or Advisories for three areas of Maui which shows alerts currently in effect for those areas and is normally updated every two-three minutes. Unfortunately it is not historical so no data for 8th August.

Also there was a hurricane passing to the south, with winds on 8th August peaking at between 80 km/h 107km/h. (Source US National weather centre)

Hurricanes are closely tracked by the highly effective US Hurricane Centre (NOAA) with estimates of wind strengths, direction of the hurricane and relevant data which is published every few hours.

Fire danger info is provided to the population through various communication channels when deemed necessary (mid to high likability of fires to occur): TV, radio, and by text message. They also have a fire alert system, which is known by the public and has been used in the past. According to the news, this system has not been activated this time and the population was not correctly alerted. However, the danger of fires has been reported through regular means, as explained above.  On that day, a message has been sent to inform the population about the potential danger of fires. However, it is said that due to power outages (because of strong winds), the message might have not reached everyone.

 

Hawaii has what it says is one of the world’s largest siren systems to warn people of all kinds of events, including wildfires and hurricanes. Maui County has 80. State records don’t indicate that the sirens sounded in Lahaina, according to the Associated Press.

When asked at a press conference why was the state not more prepared? Hawaii Gov. Josh Green response, “We’ve never experienced a wildfire that affected a city like this before.”

Following this fire there will be a major review with recommendations to try and avoid a repeat of this disaster where perhaps hundreds have died, in the future. The lessons learned affect not only the USA but also other countries where similar risks exist.

However it should not bring disasters to bring about change. We need to think ahead and plan ahead with the best knowledge and tools that are available. It should not be case that we were not prepared because we had not experience it before! Other countries have and we need to learn from their experiences, as Portugal did following the 2017 fires.

What this shows us is the importance of preparedness and when fires do take place the need to have a basic understanding of wildfires behaviour especially those live in fire prone areas.

With that please have a safe week ahead.

News

“Aldeia Segura” program: more than half of the villages do not have an evacuation plan

More than half of the villages in the “Safe Villages, Safe People” program do not have a defined evacuation plan. The program covers more than 2,200 villages.

Created in 2018, the “Safe Villages, Safe People” programs aim to create protection zones and places of refuge, prevent people from fires and reduce the consequences in case of fires and possible evacuations.

There are currently 2,255 villages involved in this program. According to data provided by Jornal de Notícias, in the year of creation of the program, in 2018,

There were 1,793 villages, from then on the number has always increased. +170 in 2019, +29 villages in 2020, +65 in 2021, +176 in 2022 and lastly 12 villages in this last year, the lowest number of new villages ever.

The internet portal also shows that of the total of 2255 villages, only 918 villages have an evacuation plan, that is, more than half do not have this plan defined, but there is an increase compared to last year, of 60 new plans.

The latest data from this month show that Guarda, Bragança and Viseu are the districts with the most safe villages:

Guarda has 503 villages, 59 more than the previous year.

Bragança and Viseu have not changed in relation to last year.

The initially defined goal was 7,000 villages by the end of 2030.

In response to SIC, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority says that these targets may be revised but that the balance of municipalities and parishes is, so far, positive.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 7th August 2023

 

By David Thomas

Good afternoon everyone, the last few days have been dominated by the rural fires ion the mainland in particular the Odemira fire which was active for five days and was brought under resolution earlier today.

This and many of the other fires were largely predictable given the high temperatures, maximum fire risk in many parts of the country and fire danger at “extreme” and above in certain areas. Civil protection pre-positioned many resources in high risk areas accordingly. I outlined this on KissFm radio of Sunday and I hopefully the advice helped people in preparing and dealing with such fires.

It is important, however, to note that in forest fires it is not the high temperatures that produces the fires. In general it is human activity, often by carelessness, sometimes intentionally. The fires are facilitated by the existence of these high temperatures, the low humidity of the air, which make the vegetation dry and is more likely for it to ignite, and spread. We have to be even more careful. Unfortunately, we see that this is not what happens. Often, people undertake activities that they think will not have any consequences and cause these fires.

Safe Communities Portugal monitored the Odemira fire from the start and we created a major incident page on our website. To make it easier to follow. It was apparent from the outset that this would be a difficult fire to suppress, due to many factors such and deep and enclosed valleys which are difficult to access on land by fire fighters and track machines, the variable weather with high temperatures and in particular gusty and variable wind conditions sometimes up to 80 km/h.

These challenges were described by ANEPC as; “an area of interest approaching 9,000 ha, characterized by extensive areas of pine forest, adult and young eucalyptus, cork oaks, strawberry trees and bushes and a scattered building and rural/urban interface zones that required a dispersion of combat means for actions to protect the populations and protected heritage. As a result of the steep slope with embedded valleys, along with the constant reactivations, these became quickly out of suppression capacity, aggravated by the lack of conditions conducive to progression with crawler machines in the consolidation process”.

Taking advantage of improved weather conditions overnight 8th/9th August the fire has been brought to a resolution today, but with increasing temperatures in the Algarve later today, with an orange level warning in place, some reactivations are inevitable.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 5,529 fire events have already affected 19,106 hectares of rural areas. Yesterday: there 153 and 170 on Monday.

The question also arose whether or not the government should declare a Situation of Alert to help deal with the outbreak of fires.

Secretary of State for Civil Protection announced this was being assessed on Sunday, taking into account the operational response to combat the fires and weather conditions. However, “as time progressed”, and based on a permanent daily assessment, “the situation began to change slightly” to a meteorological picture quite different from the one that we had initially in the middle of the afternoon of Sunday”. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that this is an instrument absolutely exceptional, as well as the declaration of the state of contingency.

Let us hope that we do not have to embark on these sort of measures as we did in 2022 during the heatwave, when there were more fires over a longer period.

The response to the creation of our new Facebook group, Safe Communities Portugal has exceeded expectations with close to 1700 members in just 40 days since it was formed. This group fills a vacuum as its aim is to increase risk awareness and preparedness, so everyone knows how to reduce the impact of major disasters where possible and action to take during such events. We have covered major fire events and will continue to do so during the months ahead. We ask people to monitor closely weather reports and in particular fire risks and dangers.

With that please have a safe week ahead.

 

 

Situation Report Azores 9th August 2023 

 

 By our Azores correspondent

Sewage flowing into the lagoon of Caldeira do Santo Cristo in São Jorge 

Sewage from homes is flowing into the lagoon of Caldeira do Santo Cristo, on the island of São Jorge, says the president of the Association of Clam Producers.

Caldeira do Santo Cristo has been classified as a nature reserve since 1984, based on several criteria, including its origin and geology, as well as due to the presence of the clam Tapes decussatus.

In 1989 it was transformed into a Special Ecological Area, aiming to safeguard the clam population and maintain the ecological balance of the area.

It is also part of the Ramsar network, being, like the other fajãs of São Jorge, UNESCO Biosphere reserves.

José Borges, president of the Association of Clam Producers of Fajã do Santo Cristo said that there are ancient ruins where summer houses and tourist projects are built where “sewers, kitchens and bathrooms are set up that will drain to the lagoon”.

“The summer houses or local lodgings are all made with septic tanks, facing the lagoon. Once saturated, with the winter rains, and some in the summer, everything comes to the lagoon”, declares José Borges.

In Caldeira do Santo Cristo, a significant community once lived, but today there are only about a dozen permanent inhabitants, which is much sought after by tourists for its natural beauty.


Navy rescues 57-year-old crew member 

A 57-year-old man from Sri Lanka, a crew member of the federal merchant ship Kushiro, sailing about 700 nautical miles south of Ponta Delgada, was rescued on suspicion of having a stroke, announced the Navy.

PSP detains four men in São Miguel 

The Public Security Police (PSP) announced the arrest of four men as part of the regular operational activity carried out by the Police Division of Ponta Delgada.

Three of these individuals, aged between 31 and 35, were arrested in the municipalities of Lagoa, Ponta Delgada and Vila Franca do Campo, one of them for the crime of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, with a BAC higher than 1.20 g/l, and two for the crime of driving without a legal license for the purpose.

According to the PSP, a 42-year-old man was also arrested in the municipality of Lagoa for the crime of introduction in a place closed to the public.

The Public Security Police also reported the arrest of two men, aged 21 and 59, in the municipalities of Santa Cruz da Graciosa and Praia da Vitória, for the crime of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, with a BAC higher than 1.20 g/l.

 

The Algarve Report 9 Aug 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all, this past week the big news is the number of fires which are ongoing or have been extinguished across the country but also in the Algarve region. As I write the big fire in Odemira on the west coast area is still burning ( Tuesday) and currently more than 900 firefighters are tackling the forest fire along with over 300 vehicles and 6 air resources. We have seen particularly hot and windy conditions this past week which obviously exacerbates the fires and allows them to take hold.

We can all help by making sure that no sparks or flames are allowed to happen unintentionally and that we all adhere to the rules which surround the use of garden equipment and barbecues. Don’t forget if you see a fire or smell smoke call 112 first and foremost. We will continue to monitor the fire situation across the country so keep an eye on our facebook page to see the latest information.

Now a look at what else is making the news in our area this past week.

Two Men arrested trying to steal Fast Boats from VSRA

The Coastal Control Unit (UCC) detained this Monday, August 7th, two men of foreign nationality, aged 23 and 24, for attempting to steal high-speed boats from the mooring pier of the Coastal Control Sub Detachment of Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA), reported the GNR .

The two suspects, who were hooded, were detected at 4:00 am by soldiers from the Maritime Team of the VRSA Coastal Control Sub Detachment, “when they entered the mooring pier, skirting the fence and immediately heading towards two vessels used for patrolling and interception. ”, specifies the GNR in a statement. “Equipped with tools, they immediately began to work on the engines and ignition guns, in order to put them into operation, with the aim of stealing maritime resources at the service of the GNR”, continues the note.

The prompt intervention of the UCC soldiers made it possible to detain two suspects, one of whom collaborated “with the verbal orders of the military, immediately ceasing his movements, and another started to flee by swimming, ending up being intercepted shortly afterwards, still close to the pier”. , details. Considering the modus operandi used, the GNR believes that “there are strong suspicions of the relationship between the arrested individuals and other similar situations, related to the theft of vessels belonging to the security forces”, it can be read.

Since the beginning of 2023, the GNR has detected “three attempts to steal vessels” and three arrests have been made. “These attempted thefts are largely related to the intervention of the UCC in the fight against international narcotics criminal networks by sea and which, since the beginning of the year, has allowed the seizure of six high-speed vessels and about five tons of hashish”, he points out.

The two men remain in custody and will be present at the Vila Real de Santo António Judicial Court.

Three 23-year-olds are remanded in custody for robberies in Albufeira

The Faro Territorial Command of the GNR , through the Territorial Sub-detachment of Albufeira, arrested three 23-year-old men for robbery in the municipality of Albufeira, on August 1, announced the GNR.

“Following a denunciation of disrespect in the area of ​​Praia da Oura, in Albufeira, the military went to the place and found that six young people, aged between 17 and 23, had been victims of aggression and robbery by a group of three individuals who fled in a vehicle”, describes the GNR in a statement.

The GNR military “carried out steps and managed to intercept, in the vicinity, the vehicle used by the suspects and detain them”, continues the note. During the police action it was possible to seize “two cell phones; one wallet; a suitcase; a wooden stick; and a vehicle”, he details.

The action was reinforced by military personnel from the Criminal Prevention and Community Policing Section (SPCPC) and the Criminal Investigation Nucleus (NIC) in Albufeira, as well as military personnel from the Public Order Intervention Group (GIOP) from the Intervention Unit (UI)

The three detainees were present at the Judicial Court of Albufeira on the 2nd of August, having applied the coercive measure of pre-trial detention.

Man arrested for drug trafficking in county

A 41-year-old man was arrested red-handed on Wednesday, August 2, in the municipality of Castro Marim , for drug trafficking, announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).

The arrest was made by the Faro Territorial Command , through the Tavira Territorial Post and the Tavira Criminal Investigation Nucleus during a road inspection action.

The suspect, when approached, showed suspicious behaviour, which led to a search of the vehicle and a narcotic product was found. After police investigations, a search of his residence was carried out, where more narcotic product was seized. During this action, 4264 doses of hashish, two doses of liamba, three cannabis plants, seven ammunition, two cutting knives, two precision bullets, six mobile phones, 1808.90 euros in cash, a vehicle and various equipment used in the packaging of the narcotic product.

The detainee is awaiting presentation to the Judicial Court of Vila Real de Santo António for the application of coercive measures. A 45-year-old woman was also accused.

The action included the reinforcement of the Environmental Protection Nucleus of the Territorial Detachment of Tavira, the Cinotechnical Section of the Intervention Detachment, the Territorial Post of Vila Real de Santo António and the Traffic Post of Tavira.

PJ arrests suspect on pornography of Minors charge in Faro

A man was detained by elements of the southern directorate of the Judiciary Police (PJ) with “thousands of videos and images” with pornography of minors, found on computer devices during searches carried out in Faro and Setúbal, it was announced on Wednesday .

In a statement, the PJ adds that the 30-year-old man is suspected of the crime of pornography of minors and was arrested as part of an investigation initiated after “complaints indicting the suspect for the practice of sexual acts with children”.

Also according to the PJ, the investigators carried out two house searches in the Faro and Setúbal area, which culminated in the arrest of the man, having found in the “computer searches of the various equipment” of the suspect “thousands of videos/images” with pornography of minors. The researchers suspect that “part of this material may have been shared with third parties not yet identified”, reads the note.

The PJ reveals that “conversations and sharing of content were also flagged” that “point strongly to the possibility of the suspect having had sexual relations, with children and young people, over the last few years”. During the searches, the PJ seized a computer, a hard disk, several external disks, two cell phones and a portable computer data storage device, as well as 54 grams of hashish and a precision scale.

“The investigation continues with a view to fully clarifying the facts, namely the identification of potential victims and other possible suspects”, adds the PJ.

According to the PJ, the detainee will still be present in court for the first judicial interrogation and the application of any coercive measures.

Man dies after feeling ill on Lota beach

A 58-year-old man died on the afternoon of Sunday, August 6, after feeling ill while bathing on Lota beach , in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António , announced the National Maritime Authority.

The alert was given at 14:15 by the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center and elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Vila Real de Santo António, from the “SeaWatch” project, Firefighters and Volunteers from Vila Real de Santo António and INEM.

The victim was pulled out of the water onto the beach by members of the public, with resuscitation manoeuvres carried out by the lifeguards until the arrival of SeaWatch, firefighters and INEM. The man was later transported, in very serious condition, to a hospital unit. The Maritime Police Psychology Office has been activated and is providing support to the victim’s family. The Local Command of the Maritime Police of Vila Real de Santo António took care of the occurrence.

1,400 evacuated as Odemira Fire bears down on Aljezur

Following on from our lead story we hear that the authorities today (Tuesday) have started to evacuate people from the various parts of São Teotónio parish and the Algarve border in Aljezur municipality.

Traffic on the EN120 leading to Odemira/ Cercal has been blocked, including access to municipal roads. The overriding message is that no-one should be driving in the vicinity of these fires unless it is to evacuate.

Police visited industrial areas this afternoon, advising garages to remove cars and combustible material to areas least exposed. Yesterday Around 100 people were evacuated from four locations, but there have been many more in terms of campers/ holidaymakers/ people living in ‘alternative structures’ on their own land, and villagers now from São Miguel, on the Alentejo/ Algarve border who have had to move to a safer area

In all 22 injuries have been reported, most light) although there are reports four people being hospitalised.

Flames forced the evacuation of 18 people in Monchique overnight

The fire raging in Odemira entered the late afternoon of Monday, the 7th, in the northern area of ​​the municipality of Monchique, forcing the evacuation of 18 people from their homes and a rural tourism unit.

Paulo Alves, mayor of the municipality, said this Tuesday that people were taken to the population service area installed at the Manuel Nascimento School, in Monchique.

“Some are still there, but the people who were in rural tourism have already left”, he added, adding that the tourist unit where some people were staying is located in the Foz do Besteiro area.

According to the mayor, the fire, which broke out on Saturday in the municipality of Odemira (Alentejan district of Beja), entered at the end of the afternoon in the area of ​​Alcanforado, in the parish of Marmelete, in an area of ​​confluence between the municipalities of Odemira, Aljezur and Monchique .

“The prevailing wind was from the southeast, but it rotated, causing projections that formed a fire front that developed towards Marmelete. It was fought at night by firefighters and crawler machines,” he described. According to Paulo Alves, the high humidity at night that was felt in the area helped to fight the fire, although at 10:00 am the mayor of that municipality was still unable to update the situation.

The work carried out during the night to fight the rural fire allowed for “stabilisation of the fire perimeter”, but there are still two critical points to motivate concern, according to Civil Protection.

“We maintain two critical points: one to the north, in the area of ​​Delfeira, which inspires a lot of concern, and also to the south, on the front facing Monchique”, said the regional commander of Emergency and Civil Protection of the Alentejo, José Ribeiro, at a point of situation to journalists around 9:30 am, at the command post in São Teotónio, parish where the fire started, in the Baiona area. José Ribeiro referred that, after the operations prioritised the defence of the populations – the GNR has already moved 1,438 citizens as a precaution -, there was an adjustment of the strategic plan and “the work of today will be more focused on the suppression of the fire”.

The number of people assisted by the National Institute of Medical Emergency ( INEM ) in this fire rose to 40, namely 28 firefighters, four civil protection agents and eight civilians, mainly due to fatigue.

As for the roads that have conditioned circulation, the regional commander explained that the situation remains in relation to Monday. In other words, the National Road (EN) 120, between São Teotónio and Odeceixe, in the neighbouring municipality of Aljezur, and the municipal roads 501, 1186, 1001 are cut off from traffic.

The rural fire in an area of ​​bush and pine forest has entered the Algarve on several occasions since Saturday, the 5th, and on Monday afternoon surrounded the centre of Odeceixe.

Until the next time stay Safe.

 

 

 

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security report Wednesday 2nd August 2023

“Largest security operation ever planned and executed in Portugal”, (Secretary General Internal Security System)

Good morning everyone – World Youth Day has finally started yesterday and the final day is on 6th August 2023 It is expected to attract between one million over 1.5 million people from all over the world in Lisbon alone.

The main WYD initiatives will take place in Lisbon, in Parque Eduardo VII, in the Belém area and in Parque Tejo (north of Parque das Nações and on land in the municipalities of Lisbon and Loures).Some areas where major events will be extremely crowded, and travel routes in the vicinity of the areas will also be congested at times. An example there will be 343 check points to control access to Parque Eduardo VII.

Pope Francis will arrive in Lisbon at 10:00 am today Wednesday and return to Rome at 18:15 on Sunday.

This is an unprecedented security operation in which 16,000 members of the: security, civil protection and medical emergency forces will be deployed, with the collaboration of the Armed Forces and the Spanish, European (Europol) and international police (Interpol). The aim is to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable visit.

Some of the police operational work will included a major anti pickpocketing operation, assisted by representatives from police in, Germany and Belgium, and stepped beach patrols on beaches along the Lisbon Cascais line.

The weather will be hot but not a heatwave, and there are health pointed signposted at locations where the main events are being held. We urge people to drink plenty of water to remain hydrated and use sunscreen and wear loose fitting clothes and wide brimmed hats to protect from the UV, which is forecast to be very high.

Included in the security measures is a prohibition on certain items you can’t take with you to the JMJ main event venues. This included: drones, fireworks, pyrotechnics, laser pointers, knives, glass objects like bottles. Due to the relocation of Pope Francis to the Shrine of Fatima, the use of unmanned aircraft (Drones) in the Cova da Iria airspace will be prohibited from July 29 to August 6, 2023. At all times follow the instructions of the security forces.

As an innovative step the IPMA have launched a microsite with meteorological information for quick information available will be for the airport, Central and east Lisbon covering the areas where the highest number of participants are expected. This is in English and Portuguese and very well presented except we would like to have seen UV included.

World Youth Day will cause constraints to traffic, with absolute restrictions from Parque Eduardo VII to downtown Lisbon on the 1st, 3rd and 4th of August, and constraints in the Parque das Nações area and on the Passeio Marítimo de Algés in the August 5th and 6th. There will be certain stations on the yellow and blue metro lines where stations are closed. We recommend therefore that people use public transport, and for those registered, transport provided by the organisers.

We also highlight that waste produced must be deposited in containers for recycling and, if it is not recyclable, place it in the undifferentiated container; Do not discard waste as you can image the situation if everyone did this with over a million people attending.

With so many people some criminals may take advantage of this and we emphasize the importance of keeping your property safe. There are many tips on the WYD website (In English) but we highlight to carry your wallet/cell phone in your back pocket or backpack, store them in a front pocket or zipped pouch that is always in contact with your body; always have your mobile phone with battery and the contact details of the other members of your group. In such crowds it is easy for people to become detached from people in their group or family members so ensure that you have their details and all have details of accommodation of where you are staying.

For those of you from overseas we welcome you to Portugal and to events in Lisbon. Have a safe stay and enjoyable stay. Complete details are on the WYD website: https://www.lisboa2023.org/en and safety and security updates on the Safe Communities Portugal Facebook page and that of Brits in Portugal

News

WYD: PSP and GNR registered 43 occurrences and arrested 91 people on Sunday

Lisbon, 31 July 2023 (Lusa) – PSP and GNR recorded 43 incidents related to World Youth Day (WYD) and arrested 91 people in the last 24 hours, said the Internal Security System (SSI) today.

According to a note from the SSI, which contains data provided by the entities that make up the WYD23 communication cell, the Public Security Police detained, on Sunday, 83 people and the National Republican Guard eight.

Most arrests are related to driving with excess alcohol, driving without a legal license, drug trafficking, thefts and robberies.

In the statement, the GNR reports that it involved, in the last 24 hours, 1,769 military personnel in 621 patrolling and awareness-raising actions.

Of the 39 incidents related to WYD registered by the GNR, the corporation highlights the three identified unauthorized ‘drones’, in which it was possible to identify a citizen, and the disturbances in a nightlife establishment in the municipality of Vendas Novas, in which 11 were identified. citizens, between a group of residents and a group of WYD participants, as well as a pilgrim who was run over in the municipality of Ourém and who suffered minor injuries.

The PSP indicates that it registered four occurrences, three of which in Lisbon and one in Elvas.

The Police specify that, in Elvas, a pilgrim from Congo got lost from the rest of the group and, in Lisbon, in Parque do Perdão, an inscription in English with the meaning of “500 victims of abuse by the Priests” and, on Avenida Marquês Tomar, in the Nossa Senhora de Fátima Church, there was a disagreement between Egyptian pilgrims.

Also at the Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre, in Lisbon, the PSP reports that a pilgrim of Croatian nationality was the victim of theft, having had his camera stolen.

The PSP also indicates that, in terms of road accidents, it registered 103 accidents that caused two deaths and 42 serious injuries.

WYD, considered the biggest event of the Catholic Church that will count on the presence of Pope Francis, takes place in Lisbon from Tuesday to Sunday.

The main ceremonies of the day take place in Parque Tejo, north of Parque das Nações, on the riverside of the Tagus, in lands in the municipalities of Lisbon and Loures, and in Parque Eduardo VII, in the center of the capital.

PSP detected situations of fraud related to meals and transport of pilgrims

At a press conference on WYD security, Artur Querido, from the Foreigners and Borders Service, revealed that on Monday, July 31st, more than 150,000 entries were registered in Portugal.

“The first major challenge for the security forces, Civil Protection and emergency medical teams is posed today at the end of the afternoon with the mass in Parque Eduardo VII whose turnout can reach 200 thousand pilgrims”.

More than 2000 buses are expected in parking spaces and Lisbon residents “must be prepared” to feel the first major constraints. “Therefore, the words that are addressed to residents and workers are: understanding, patience, unity, civility and hospitality. We are used to receiving well and we will continue to do so”.

PSP, which also participated in this conference, spoke about some situations of fraud with meals for pilgrims. “We were faced with two criminal situations. One related to speculation, in which pilgrims are contacted by drivers supposedly hired by the organization to transport them to their reception places, later demanding large sums for that service”.

“Another situation that was reported to us is the fraudulent use of QR codes from the credentials of pilgrims who have the food service. Situation used in an abusive way and when the pilgrim is going to use the meal, someone else has already done so”.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 2nd August 2023

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all for this the first report of August. The holiday season is in full swing across the Algarve and this month sees a variety of events happening in many towns throughout the Algarve. With the influx of tourists this will inevitably bring with it a lot of things we don’t like to see, from a safety and security point of view. In many towns across the Algarve we have an increased police presence for the summer in order to counteract the criminal element and we have already seen a large number of drug related arrests. With the increase in tourists inevitably we are seeing more road traffic accidents occurring on our roads.

In addition, we are also seeing more incidents of injury on the beaches and in the ocean. Please remember that whilst it may seem calm there is always the underlying issue of rip currents which can have a devastating effect if people are not aware of this issue. Also the temperature of the Ocean is a lot cooler than many people expect so this can also have an effect on a person swimming too long in the Ocean.

Now let’s look at some of the stories that have happened in the region in the past week.

PSP Arrests Man for Drug Trafficking

The Faro District Command of the PSP detained a 33-year-old man for drug trafficking in Lagos , reported that security force.

“Following several complaints of suspicious movements, related to drug trafficking in some areas of the city, police from the Lagos Police Station of the PSP, in recent days, have intensified surveillance in these places, making it possible to collect evidence of the sale of liamba. and hashish to several consumers in the city by the detainee, in the form of direct sale, proceeding with his arrest in flagrante delicto”, can be read in a statement.

Following the subsequent investigation steps, “598 doses of marijuana, 86 doses of hashish, 10 doses of cocaine, 60 electric cannabis vaporizers, 16,250 euros, a mobile phone, as well as a cannabis production greenhouse, an electric gun, were seized. a firearm replica, a moped vehicle and several other objects related to drug trafficking”, lists the PSP.

The detainee will be presented to the Judiciary Authority in order for the coercive measures to be decreed.

Man On The Run for 13 years Arrested in Olhao

A 44-year-old man was arrested this Thursday, July 27, in the municipality of Olhão , to serve five years and eight months in prison for various crimes of aggravated theft, announced the National Republican Guard.

The crimes took place in residences in 2010 in the municipalities of Olhão and Tavira, with the suspect having been unknown for several years. The military, after a European arrest warrant, located the suspect in the city of Olhão, who was handed over to the local Prison.

PSP Arrests Three in Olhão for Drug Trafficking

The PSP detained a man and two women on Sunday, July 30, suspected of drug trafficking in Olhão, the Faro District Command of the PSP reported today .

“As part of an investigation into drug trafficking, in a specific area of ​​the city of Olhão, three search and seizure warrants were issued for the targets, by the competent judicial authority”, can be read in a statement.

Thus, during the day of yesterday, the aforementioned warrants were complied with, when the three suspects were arrested and “51 doses of cocaine, about 800 euros in cash, a digital scale and other objects associated with the handling of a narcotic product were seized. ”, details the note. The criminal investigation police operation had the support of the Intervention Corps of the Highlighted Force of the District Command of Faro.

The detainees will now be presented before a judicial authority for the possible application of coercive measures.

Man Dies in Collision between Motorcycle and Light Vehicle on EN125

A man died following a collision between a motorcycle and a light vehicle that took place this Monday on National Road (EN) 125, in Boliqueime , in the municipality of Loulé, a Civil Protection source said. According to a source from the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command, the collision between the two vehicles “resulted in the death of the motorcycle driver, a 51-year-old man”.

The source explained that the accident occurred at 10:30 am in the area of ​​Patã de Cima, in Boliqueime. Civil Protection mobilised 27 operators from the Loulé and Albufeira fire brigades, the National Republican Guard ( GNR ), the Portuguese Red Cross and the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) to the site.

Road traffic was interrupted for about an hour for rescue operations and road cleaning, having already been re-established, said a GNR source.

The GNR’s Traffic Accident Crimes Investigation Center launched an investigation to determine the causes of the accident.

Motorbike Accident in Cacela Causes Serious Injuries 

A motorcyclist on Estrada 125 in Vila Nova de Cacela , in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António , caused a serious injury on Saturday, July 29, who had to be transported by helicopter to Faro, according to Arenilha TV.

The victim, 35 years old and of Portuguese nationality, was transported in the INEM helicopter to the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve. The accident took place around 06:45 and forced the traffic to be cut off in that area at 08:00 for the helicopter to land. There were 15 operators supported by four vehicles.

14 People Rescued from Troubled Tourist Boat

Due to problems with the propulsion system, 14 people had to be rescued from a maritime-tourist vessel south of the pier at the port of Portimão , on Monday, July 31, announced the Portuguese Navy.

The rescue was coordinated by the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center and by the Captain of the Port of Portimão, after the request for help arrived at 12:42.

The vessel flying the Portuguese flag was adrift towards the east pier of the Port of Portimão and elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police were immediately called to the spot. The 14 crew members were physically well and no medical assistance was required, while the vessel was transported to the Port of Portimão, for safety reasons, having docked at 13:38.

German Lady  Rescued on Ingrina Beach after a Fall

A 35-year-old German woman was helped after a fall while practising coasteering, on Ingrina beach , in the municipality of Vila do Bispo , on Friday, July 28, announced the National Maritime Authority.

The alert was given at 18:30 by the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, which immediately sent members of the Lagos Maritime Police Local Command, crew from the Sagres Lifeguard Station, members of the “SeaWatch” project, a team from the INEM Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle and elements from the Vila do Bispo Volunteer Firefighters.

The victim, at the scene, was conscious and was stabilised by the elements of the “SeaWatch” project, with the help of the firefighters and the crew of the Lifeguard Station, who transported him to the beach, where he was assisted by INEM. The woman was later transported to a hospital unit and the Lagos Maritime Police Local Command took care of the incident.

2 People are Injured while Practising Parasailing in Vilamoura

Two young women aged 22 and 28 were seriously injured in an accident while parasailing on Vilamoura beach during the afternoon of Thursday, July 27, announced the National Maritime Authority.

The alert was given at 20:05 by the Guidance Center for Urgent Patients in Faro and elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Faro and a team from the Medical Vehicle for Emergency and Resuscitation from INEM were immediately sent to the scene.

The two victims were transported by a maritime-tourist vessel to the Vilamoura marina, in the municipality of Loulé , where they were assisted by INEM personnel and subsequently transported to a hospital unit.

Young Man with Fracture Rescued from Praia do Carvalho in Lagoa

The Ferragudo Lifeguard Station rescued, on the afternoon of Friday, the 28th, a 13-year-old young man, of German nationality, who suffered a fracture in his lower limbs following a dive from a cliff, at Praia do Carvalho, in the municipality of Lagoa.

​Following an alert received at 3:30 pm, through the 112, informing “a person had fallen from a cliff”, elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Portimão , crew of the Rescue Station, a team from the INEM Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (VMER), members of the Lagos Volunteer Firefighters and the lifeguards on duty on the beach made their way to the scene.

Upon arrival at the scene, it was found that the victim, a 13-year-old, “was conscious, having been promptly stabilised by INEM and Portimão Volunteer Firefighters”, says the National Maritime Authority (AMN) in a statement.The young man was later rescued and transported to the pier in Ferragudo, by the vessel of the Estação Salva-vidas de Ferragudo, where an INEM ambulance was waiting, which transported him to a hospital unit.

The Portimão Maritime Police Local Command took care of the occurrence.

And to end this report we would like to bring to your attention the issues surrounding beach and water safety. In the past week we have seen authorities shut down two beaches due to microbiological contamination detected in the water. When this happens the authorities will raise a red flag on the beach which means no bathing and this flag will remain until it is deemed safe enough for the beach to be reopened. The heat of the summer is in part one reason why we are seeing these instances so please be aware if you are visiting the beach or have family staying who are venturing to the beach to be aware.

With that I wish you a very happy and safe week.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 2nd August 2023 

Tender for privatization of Azores Airlines with two proposals 

The tender for the privatization of Azores Airlines received two proposals, submitted by the Atlantic Consortium and the consortium NewTour/MSAviation, which offered 6.50 euros for each share of the company responsible for connections with the outside of the Azores.

The Atlantic Consortium is formed by Vesuvius Wings, White Airways, Old North Ventures, Consolidador and Euro Atlantic Airways.

The European Commission approved Portuguese state aid to support the airline’s restructuring of 453.25 million euros in loans and state guarantees, providing for ‘remedies’ such as a reorganization of the structure and the divestment of a controlling stake (51%) in Azores Airlines, the SATA group company responsible for flights outside the archipelago.

Beach festivities mark the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the British military on the island. 

The Beach Festivities, which take place from the 4th to the 13th of August, mark the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the British Air Force on Terceira Island, in the Azores, with a parade of more than 90 extras.

From Friday to the 13th, Praia da Vitória celebrates its biggest parties with musical shows, processions, traditions, popular marches, exhibitions, bullfighting, sports and gastronomy, among other activities.

One of the highlights of the program is the opening procession, on Saturday night, which attracts thousands of people to the main arteries of the city.

This year, with the theme “From golden wheat to iron birds”, the festivities mark the arrival in Terceira, in 1943, of the Royal Air Force, who built an airstrip in Lajes.

Power failure was due to a problem in a high voltage transport network equipment. 

Eletricidade Açores: Leituras, Contactos e EDA OnlineThe interruption in the supply of electricity that affected, on Sunday, several areas of the island of São Miguel, was due to an unpredictable problem in equipment on the high voltage transmission network, which was isolated, after the adoption of security measures, the power was fully restored at 21:49.

 

The Azores Situation Report Wednesday 26th July 2023

Shuttle’ has already transported 18,626 people to Lagoa do Fogo 

A total of 18,626 people have taken the ‘shuttle’ trip to visit Lagoa do Fogo, on the island of São Miguel, in the Azores, since it started operating on June 15th, says the Regional Government.

With ‘shuttle’ transport in access to Lagoa do Fogo, car circulation was limited to residents’ vehicles and prohibited to ‘rent-a-car’ cars.

The ‘shuttle’ is free for residents and costs five euros for non-residents.

This transport service, provided by the company Atlântico Energy, leaves from Caldeira Velha, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, and ends at Casa da Água, in Lagoa, and then takes the opposite route.

Transport operates on a ‘hop on hop off’ basis and covers approximately 14 kilometres, passing through six tourist attractions, from 9 am to 7 pm, every day of the week, including national, regional or municipal holidays, until the 30th of September.

The day of the week most sought after by visitors to Lagoa do Fogo is Saturday, followed by Monday and Sunday, with Wednesday being the day with the least demand.

The most popular times are from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

The average number of tickets per day is 454, with the maximum number of tickets sold in one day (863) being recorded on June 19 and the minimum (103) on July 7 (excluding the first two days of operation) of the service.

The ‘shuttle’ service is provided with three buses (initially there were two, until the second half of July, due to technical problems).

Regarding support infrastructures, according to the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Transport of the Azores, there are car parks in Caldeira Velha (capacity for 101 spaces), Casa da Água (60 spaces) and Casa da Água (100 spaces) and two spaces for additional parking (for visitors in their own car/residents) at the Pico da Barrosa viewpoint and at the Lagoa do Fogo viewpoint.

The Tourism Indicator predicts that around 404,000 overnight stays in tourist accommodation will have been recorded throughout the region in June”, reads a publication by SREA, published on its website, referring to overnight stays in traditional hotels, rural tourism and local accommodation.

According to the SREA tourist activity report for June 2022, the region recorded 359,986 overnight stays in that month, a number that had already surpassed the figure for June 2019 (321,184), pre-pandemic of covid-19.

Compared to June 2022, SREA estimates point to a growth of 12.23% in 2023.

Compared to June 2019, the increase is 25.78%, with a difference of more than 82 thousand overnight stays.

The publication also highlights the number of passengers disembarking at Azores airports in June, coming from territorial flights (from mainland Portugal or Madeira) and international flights.

According to data previously revealed by SREA, the Azores recorded in June a record number of passengers disembarking by air, a total of 225,693.

The largest number of landings was passengers from inter-island flights (98,825), which registered a growth of 17.4%, compared to the same month in 2022.

It was among passengers on international flights that there was the biggest increase (33.9%), with a total of 35,195 disembarkations.

Passengers from other regions of the national territory reached 91,673, 10.1% more than in the same period last year.

According to SREA, the Tourism Indicator (TI) “aims to estimate the general evolution of economic activity in the tourism sector in the Autonomous Region of the Azores”.

“The IT-Azores results from the addition of overnight stays recorded in the three types of tourist accommodation and is released about three weeks before the publication of the Tourist Activity highlight”, reads in the publication.

The estimate of overnight stays in hotels, rural tourism and local accommodation “relies to the values ​​recorded in the Survey on Staying Guests in Hotels and other accommodation” and to “extrapolation of trends according to the expected response rate in each case “.