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The Azores Situation Report Wednesday 24th May 2023

by Chris Noble

Maritime Police seize 810 kilos of fish in Vila do Porto

Elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Vila do Porto, on the island of Santa Maria, seized 810 kg of bigeye tuna, during an inspection carried out on the unloading of fish in that port.

According to a statement from the National Maritime Authority, “during this action, members of the Maritime Police inspected several vessels that were unloading fish, having detected a vessel that exceeded its discharge quota by 810 kg, corresponding to 29 units of fish”.

The Maritime Police prepared the respective report, “having proceeded to the seizure of surplus bigeye tuna, which will be sold at auction, with the value reverting to the benefit of the process”.

Two members of the Local Command of the Vila do Porto Maritime Police were involved in this action.

Arrest for allegedly committing the crime of currency counterfeiting.

A man was arrested “in flagrante delicto” in Graciosa, suspected of the crime of counterfeiting currency, with “99 counterfeit 20-euro notes being seized”, revealed the PSP.

According to a press release from the Regional Command of the Azores of the PSP, the arrest of the 36-year-old man occurred when the suspect tried to buy “goods in a commercial establishment, on the island of Graciosa, with false notes”.

The PSP, after intercepting the suspect, carried out searches of the suspect’s vehicle and residence and seized “two weapons, one unregistered firearm and the other compressed air”, and “99 counterfeit 20-euro notes”.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 24th May 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all. Well since my last report, many areas of the Algarve have seen rain for the first time in a while which is very welcome from the agricultural and personal point of view. However, we must not forget that this is also the start of the Fire Season and we must all be vigilant even with this change of weather. A few centimetres of rain are not going to get the region out of the drought scenario but it is helping put precious water into the reservoirs. With the forecast for the Algarve to be more of the same for the next couple of weeks we can only hope that this will provide us with sufficient water to alleviate the situation as the summer moves on.

Golf courses with excessive consumption and irrigation without authorization must suffer water cuts in the event of restrictions on consumption in agriculture, warned this Tuesday the president of the Association of Beneficiaries of the Sotavento do Algarve Irrigation Plan.

The person in charge of the association that manages the irrigation perimeter of the eastern (eastern) Algarve, Macário Correia, warned that at stake are six golf courses that consume more than required and about 200 hectares of irrigation outside the irrigation perimeter, but who use water without authorization.

“We have two critical situations, one is golf courses that use – in previous years – twice as much as they require, and we have an area of ​​a few hundred hectares of agricultural irrigation outside the perimeter without authorization”, pointed out the former president of the Chambers of Tavira and Faro.

This week Safe Communities were present at the AlgarveSafe 23 exhibition held in the Arena Portimao from Thursday to Saturday. Throughout the three days there were seminars and discussions about fire prevention as well as fire fighting techniques as there was a large contingent of Bombeiros from across the country in attendance. David Thomas, our founder, conducted a special seminar on Risk and how to manage it. This was in both English and Portuguese and was well received by those who attended.

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

Man Arrested on Suspicion of Child Sex Abuse in Olhao

A 28-year-old man was arrested on Monday, May 22, for “strong indications” of the commission of various crimes of sexual abuse of children in the municipality of Olhão, announced the Judiciary Police ( PJ ).

According to the Southern Directorate, the sexual assaults on the minor, who is currently nine years old, took place during the year 2021, being committed by her mother’s partner.

After the investigation, various pieces of evidence were collected, such as reports of sexual assault and exposure to pornographic content. Abuses took place when the environment was fully controlled by the suspect, at his own residence, when the mother was not present.

The inquiry is directed by the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action of Olhão.

Government Minister Signs Order to Shut Nightclub in Vilamoura

The Minister of Internal Affairs, José Luís Carneiro, determined the closure of the Dice Clube discotheque, located in the Casino de Vilamoura , in the municipality of Loulé , announced the Government.

The closure will take place for a maximum period of six months after “successive and seriously disturbing occurrences of public order over the last year”.

This measure is due to the closure proposal presented by the National Republican Guard (GNR), after acts of violence that “have been registered inside the discotheque and in the respective parking lot”, the last of which took place on 14 May with use of melee weapons. “The reopening of this nightlife establishment is subject to compliance with the measures defined by the GNR to restore security conditions on site and the normal functioning of the disco”, he adds in a statement.

57 Year Old Woman Dies in House Fire

Firefighters from Faro were called to a ground floor apartment in the Urbanização Vale da Amoreira, at 06:45  in the morning. A source from the Sub-Regional Command said that only the ground floor apartment where the fatal victim was found had been affected, with no structural damage to the building in question.

According to the same source, the victim was a 57-year-old woman of Portuguese nationality and the fire was declared extinguished at around 07:22. A total of 24 firefighters, the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) and the PSP having been called in, supported by 10 vehicles attended the incident.

Eleven-month-old Baby Dies Awaiting Hospital Transfer in Portimão

The 11-month-old baby died on Friday at the hospital in Portimão while awaiting transfer to the paediatric intensive care unit at the hospital in Faro. The Ministry of Health guaranteed that the baby’s death had nothing to do with the operating model of the Centro Hospitalar do Algarve .

INEM’s paediatric inter-hospital transport ambulance in the region was inoperative due to lack of a doctor. The paediatric inter-hospital transport ambulance in Lisbon was also contacted, which was busy, and an INEM helicopter was called in, but when the medical teams were preparing to transport the baby, his health deteriorated. The child died a few hours later.

The Ministry of Health said that all means were made available to the baby, while he was waiting for a hospital transfer, and that the transport failed due to the worsening of his condition. “All clinical and technical means were made available, in permanent articulation with INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergencies), but unfortunately, at the time when the heli transport was about to carry out the inter-hospital transfer, the baby suffered a worsening of the condition. its state, incompatible with transport”, a source from the ministry told Lusa .

Questioned by Lusa about whether the ministry intends to maintain the operation of Pediatrics on a rotating basis, the same source of guardianship clarified that the baby’s death has nothing to do with the rotating operating model, which is a competence of the board of directors of the Hospital Center from the Algarve .

“The family resorted to the nearest emergency room to where they were, which is the paediatric emergency room at the hospital in Portimão, and which was open”, said the source, stressing that the paediatric intensive care unit that operates at the hospital in Faro was available to receive the baby.

The Ministry of Health stressed that the articulation between the various units of the National Health Service (SNS) “happens throughout every day of the year, so that, whenever necessary, hospitals in other regions collaborate with the Algarve in order to receive patients who need care in other institutions”. However, in this case, the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA) “was in a position to respond” and what was outlined was an internal transfer within the institution.

“Naturally, the SNS works in a network and when an institution does not have the capacity, users are guided towards others with differentiation and availability for the purpose. This has happened in the Algarve, as in the North or Centre, whenever there is no timely response, for example, due to excessive demand, and it has worked with favourable results”, he indicated.

Woman Rescued after Paragliding Fall on Alfamar Beach

A 21-year-old woman was rescued during the morning of this Friday, May 19, after having suffered a fall while practising paragliding on Alfamar beach, in Authority .

The alert was given at 11:15 am and elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Portimão , soldiers of the “Praia Segura” program, lifeguards, elements of the Volunteer Firefighters of Albufeira and INEM were immediately activated.

The Swiss woman was conscious but in severe pain, having been assisted and immobilised by the Albufeira Volunteer Firefighters.The victim was later transported to a hospital unit and the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Portimão took care of the occurrence.

Body Found on the Bank of the Alvor Estuary

The body of a man was found on the morning of this Friday, May 19, on the bank of the Alvor estuary , in the municipality of Portimão , announced the National Maritime Authority.

So far, the causes of this occurrence are unknown, the alert for which was received at 09:32, with elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Portimão, crew of the Lifeguard Station of Ferragudo having been immediately activated to the place. , INEM, Judiciary Police and Portimão Volunteer Firefighters.

It is the body of a 66-year-old man, of Mozambican nationality, who was removed from the water by the crew of the Ferragudo Lifeguard Station and transported to the shore. Death was declared on the spot by INEM and the body was transported by the Portimão Volunteer Firefighters to the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Portimão, after contacting the Public Ministry.

The Maritime Police Psychology Office was activated and the Portimão Maritime Police Local Command took care of the occurrence.

And finally what could be a start to a trend in conservation on the Algarve-

The first Miyawaki Forest in the Algarve is growing in the municipality of Silves with 18 plant species native to the region that guarantee a balance of biodiversity and less use of water, an increasingly scarce resource.

The Native Forest project, developed by biologist Sónia Soares on a family plot of land in Mesquita, in the parish of Algoz, in the municipality of Silves, was born in March with the planting of 260 plants of 18 species native to the Algarve, which in some cases are common to other parts of the country.

“The Miyawaki forests are characterised by having rapid development, being rich in native species and bringing many benefits, both for the environment and for man, as well as for capturing and absorbing water”, among other advantages, said Sónia Soares. According to the project’s mentor, this forest system becomes self-sufficient after two or three years, with the advantage of allowing “greater retention of water in the soil and, therefore, the passage later to the groundwater”.

Sónia Santos stresses that this method will allow you to use less water: “It is not just in terms of money, but the importance that water has for us, and especially here in the Algarve, which is one of the regions of our country that is suffering the most. with drought and desertification”.

Zambujeiro, mastic, oleander, carob, cistus and myrtle are some of the species planted in the small forest of 100 square metres that the biologist would like to serve as an example to be replicated in other areas of the Algarve and even the country.

“The assumptions that we follow in this methodology make it more economical, and these forests, in terms of development, are self-sufficient after two to three years”, he said, adding that at the end of that period of time, the plants do not need to be watered. The Miyawaki method was created by Japanese botanist and ecologist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s and has inspired the planting of hundreds of small urban forests around the world.

Miyawaki’s studies led to the development of a planting method that combines the concepts of potential natural vegetation (the vegetation that would exist on a site if there were no human intervention) and the way species interact with each other and grow to form a forest ecosystem. dynamic.

“The main [economic] income is not a measurable or physical income”, defended Sónia Soares, who also considered the role that this method has to be important in “alert people to environmental problems and the need to develop this type of projects” .

For the biologist, it is necessary to “help contribute a little bit to the improvement of the environment”, involving “the local population in all stages of the development of a project like this, whether it be the planting, or the monitoring and irrigation ”.

“And this is an important tool, because in economic terms, in terms of value, this is the best we can give these generations and future generations”, he stressed.

The principles of the Miyawaki method argue that the potential natural vegetation of the site and its structure must be identified, that is, how the different species of herbs, shrubs and trees can be combined.

The crop should be kept weed free and watered regularly for the first two years. This method allows vegetation to grow faster, which has made it successful in hundreds of small urban forest projects.

The method has shown good results, with a success rate of 97% worldwide, having invaded Europe and appeared in Portugal, for the first time, in 2021.

Until the next time,….

 

The Azores Situation Report Wednesday 17th May 2023

by Chris Noble

Four out of 10 pre-school children in the Azores are overweight or obese

Four out of 10 pre-school children in the Azores are overweight or obese and at the various levels of education a reduction in motor proficiency has been detected, according to preliminary data from a study.

“If we talk about children in the 2nd and 3rd cycle and secondary schools in the region, one in three is overweight or obese. On the other hand, in pre-school, which was probably the population group most affected by the arrest of the pandemic [of covid-19], the number is more worrying: four out of 10 ”, said the professor at the Faculty of Sports at the University of Porto José Maia, coordinator of the Despertar project, which assesses the physical condition of children and young people in the Azores.

The study, which began collecting data in November/December 2022, covered, until May 1, 3,500 children and young people from preschool to secondary in the Azores, between 3 and 18 years old.

In addition to an increase in weight, preliminary data indicate that there is a “lower motor proficiency” at different levels of education, compared to studies carried out in previous years in the Azores, Madeira, Matosinhos or the United States of America.

In the 1st cycle, for example, the success rate in performing four or five fundamental motor skills together is “low” and lower than data collected in Matosinhos.

At this level of education, girls proved to be “less skilled” than boys.

Also, in the 2nd and 3rd cycles there was a decrease in the physical fitness success rate, compared to 2007 data.

Only one in 10 young people passed the physical fitness test criteria and only one in five had a “functional” level in the dynamic postural assessment.

“It is worrying, but not surprising. It is worrying, because we must solve this problem, it is not surprising, because it has to do with the immediate and delayed effects of the pandemic”, stressed the project coordinator.

There are five islands with data already closed, but the final report should only be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

By mid-June, data collection in schools will end and, by the end of the year, physical activity, habits and quality of sleep in a family environment will be monitored.

The initial objective was to involve 7,000 children and young people (about 25% of the total in the region), a number that was reduced to 5,000, but this is, even so, according to José Maia, the “most extensive study carried out on a national scale” on the physical condition of children and young people.

The study is being carried out by about three dozen Physical Education teachers and Sports students, involving five departments of the Regional Government of the Azores.

Azores with six observation points on four islands for monitoring the coast.

The Azores will have six observation points to monitor the coast, integrated in the Integrated Surveillance, Command and Control System (SIVICC) of the GNR, in São Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Pico, announced the Minister of Internal Administration.

The investment [planned for the Azores] until 2026 will make it possible to locate six observation towers that will be articulated with mobile means of inspection and coastal control.

As part of the SIVICC of the National Republican Guard (GNR) in the Azores, posts will be installed in the parishes of São Roque and Ponta Garça, in São Miguel, in Monte Brasil and Praia da Vitória, in Terceira, in Espalamaca in Faial and in Santo António in the Peak.

SIVICC, which already exists on the mainland and in Madeira, is a technological platform that allows the location and identification of threats in the territorial sea, coastline and external border, being aimed at detecting drug trafficking, trafficking of goods and people, smuggling, illegal immigration, protection of the environment and even in the aid of search and rescue missions.

The implementation of the system in the Azores will represent a total investment of over 7.6 million euros and includes the acquisition of a patrol vessel.

Azores register 197 thousand tourist overnight stays in March, 19.8% more than in the same period.

The Azores recorded 197,000 overnight stays in tourist accommodation in March, 19.8% more than in the same period last year, according to data revealed by the Azores Regional Statistics Service (SREA).

The year-on-year increase in overnight stays was lower than that registered in the country, which, according to SREA, reached 26.7%.

The number of overnight stays by residents in Portugal (105.1 thousand) was higher than that of tourists residing abroad (91.9 thousand), however, international tourists recorded a year-on-year growth of 47.4%, while nationals rose only 3%.

The number of guests (68.1 thousand) showed “a positive year-on-year change rate of 23%”.

In the accumulated value from January to March, the region registered 449.7 thousand overnight stays and 160.2 thousand guests, with an average stay of 2.81 days.

“Tourist demand in the Azores, in the first quarter of 2023, showed an increase compared to the same period of 29.4% in overnight stays and 32.1% in guests for all tourist accommodation establishments”, says SREA.

More than half of overnight stays in March in the Azores took place in hotels (133.1 thousand), which registered “a positive year-on-year variation of 16.3%”, with more residents in Portugal (80.9 thousand) than abroad (52 ,2 thousands).

Even so, international tourists saw a higher increase (44.9%) than that seen among nationals (3.2%).

Total income from hotels in March increased by 43.6% and the average income per room used was 64.1 euros.

 

 

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 17th May 2023

by Mike Evans

Good afternoon to you all. With the Fire season in just its second week, there were a total of 38 fires in the Algarve and Lower Alentejo which meant the number of personnel involved was almost 800 firefighters. In addition 341 vehicles were used as well as 4 air support appliances. The Municipality with the most fires was Loule with a total of 7 during the last week. Obviously with the high winds we are seeing in the past few days and the very dry ground it is important for us all to remain vigilant and to report any smoke or flame you may see whilst out and about. If you see a fire RING 112 A false alarm is better than no alarm. My thanks to the Associação Alerta de incêndio Florestal for these stats. Now a look at some of the other news from around the region.

Head of the SEF regional delegation in Albufeira accused of corruption 

Faro’s Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP), brought charges against the head of the regional delegation of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) in Albufeira, and against two foreign men, accusing the SEF employee of two crimes of passive corruption and to each of the foreigners a crime of active corruption, according to a statement released today.

“In June 2018, outside office hours, in his office, the head of the SEF delegation received from the 44-year-old defendant a sum of money to schedule and facilitate the process of obtaining a residence permit for his wife”, details Faro District Attorney’s Office in a statement. In addition to this episode, “in July 2018, in his office and outside the office hours of the SEF delegation, the SEF employee received the amount of 200 euros from the 24-year-old defendant, to schedule his process with priority. residence permit”, continues the note.

According to the authorities, “the monetary amounts handed over were independent of the fees, fines and fees due for the residence permit processes and were pocketed by the defendant for his own benefit”.

The investigation was led by members of the Southern Directorate of the Judiciary Police . 

Suspect Arrested for Attempted Murder and Possession of Prohibited Weapon

The Judiciary Police, through the Portimão DIC, in compliance with an arrest warrant issued by the Public Ministry of Lagos, identified and detained a man for the presumed authorship of a crime of attempted homicide and possession of a prohibited weapon, committed on January 8 , in Lagos, as a result of a reckoning, was communicated today by the PJ .

The detainee acted in material co-authorship together with another individual, already detained on March 29 by the Judiciary Police Portimão DIC.

“After previously agreeing on a place and time, the victims, with the aim of acquiring a narcotic product, went to a secluded place in the Lagos area”, describes the PJ in a statement. Already at the scene, one of the detainees, “armed with a shotgun, fired a shot into the interior of the vehicle where those were circulating, hitting one of them in the torso, arm and face, not causing his death by mere chance”, continues the note. Although seriously injured, the PJ reports that “the victim managed to leave the scene quickly at the wheel of the vehicle, heading to a hospital unit where he was assisted”.

The 41-year-old detainee, bartender, will be present at the first judicial interrogation for the application of coercive measures deemed appropriate. The Inquiry is conducted by the Lagos Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Eleven People Arrested Over the Weekend In Albufeira

Eleven people were detained during a set of policing and crime -fighting actions carried out by the National Republican Guard (GNR) over the weekend in Albufeira , announced the security force.

The arrests of people aged between 22 and 60 were carried out by the Territorial Command of Faro, through the Territorial Detachment of Albufeira.

After inspections at various locations in the municipality, six people were arrested for drug trafficking, four for driving under the influence of alcohol and one for driving without a legal license.150 doses of cocaine, 31 pills of ecstasy, 12 doses of marijuana, 115 euros in cash and a bottle of nitrous oxide were also seized.

An inspection operation was also carried out at establishments selling miscellaneous items, which resulted in the seizure of 13 prohibited weapons known as “karambit” knives, with a 29-year-old man being accused.

The GNR military also complied with a house search warrant that resulted in the seizure of new compressed air weapons and an alarm revolver, with a 69-year-old man being accused.

The facts were communicated to the Judicial Court of Albufeira.

Two Arrested for Stealing a Boat in Cabanas de Tavira

Two men were arrested on Saturday morning, May 13, for allegedly stealing a maritime-tourist vessel in Ribeira do Almargem , in Cabanas de Tavira , announced the National Maritime Authority.

The alert was given by a member of the public who was in the vicinity, and elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Tavira were immediately activated, who, when they arrived in the area, saw the crew fleeing.

The fugitives managed to get out of the vessel, having been requested to support elements of the National Republican Guard of Tavira, who intercepted and detained them.The two men were constituted defendants and notified to appear in court.

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

Installation of 42 Surveillance Cameras To Reinforce Security at Vilamoura Marina

The Câmara de Loulé will install 42 surveillance cameras in Vilamoura Marina and accesses to increase the security of thousands of people walking in the area, especially in summer.

“The installation of this electronic surveillance device, respecting the legal framework, will be an auxiliary means to increase the perception of safety throughout the Vilamoura Marina area and surrounding area”, said the mayor, Vítor Aleixo.

On May 13, in Quarteira, the Loulé Council signed a protocol with the GNR that provides for “the implementation, activation and management of the video surveillance system” in these public places, within the scope of the first phase of a public tender that foresees an investment of 900 thousand euros.

Vítor Aleixo assured that Vilamoura Marina “is not a risk zone” and insisted that the cameras installed in the public space will “increase the feeling and perception of safety on the part of thousands of people who, during the summer in the zone”. The mayor defended that video surveillance will “complement” the human presence of the GNR military, which would be the “ideal” solution and with an “irreplaceable value”.

According to Vítor Aleixo, in a second phase of this project, the video surveillance system will be extended to the riverside area of ​​the city of Quarteira. The signing of the protocol between the municipality and the GNR was carried out as part of the celebrations, which took place on the 13th, Quarteira day, with, among other events, also inaugurating the Sociocultural Building, which will host training actions and protocols with various local entities and association.

American Woman Falls While Climbing Along Coast near Vila Do Bispo

On the afternoon of Sunday, May 14, the crew of the Sagres Lifesaving Station rescued a 38-year-old American woman who had fallen while climbing with a group of friends, between Praia do Beliche and Ponta of Cabo de São Vicente, in the municipality of Vila do Bispo .

Following an alert received around 4 pm, via the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisboa), crew members from the Sagres Lifeguard Station and members of the Maritime Police Local Command went to the location. from Lagos.

Upon arrival at the scene, the crew of the Salva-Vidas Station found that the victim, a 38-year-old woman of US nationality, was in a difficult-to-access location and had rescued her using a boat. At Porto da Baleeira, there was already an ambulance from INEM, which later transported the victim to a hospital unit.

Four Men Arrested for Copper Theft in Silves

Four men aged between 20 and 39 were arrested on Tuesday, May 9, for theft of copper in the municipality of Silves , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).

The arrest was made by the Faro Territorial Command , through the Silves and Faro Criminal Investigation Nucleus, as part of an investigation. After several police investigations, it was possible to determine the identity of the four suspects who stole about four tons of copper and various materials from the interior of residences. After carrying out two searches, one at home and another in a vehicle, 301 kilos of copper, a vehicle, and various tools used in the thefts were seized.

The detainees were present at the Judicial Court of Portimão, for the application of coercive measures. This action was reinforced by the Faro Intervention and Criminal Investigation Detachment.

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Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 10th May 2023

Good morning – There has been much attention recently on the drought situation both in Portugal but in particular, in Spain, but also in France as well

The French Pyrénées – Orientales department, which borders Spain’s Catalonia autonomous region, will be officially declared to be at drought “crisis” level from 10 May 2023, when bans on car-washing, garden-watering, and pool-filling will also come into effect. This first set of water restrictions is an effort to conserve water resources and prioritises drinking water above other usages.

There are currently over 40 “départements” in France, amounting to nearly half the country, which are officially at “alert” or “vigilance” levels of drought. The Pyrénées-Orientales will become the fourth district to declare a “crisis” drought level.

Turning to Portugal, in particular the Algarve my colleague Mike Evans has written an excellent report for today on the drought situation drawn from various sources of information and what is being done to address this issue. He compares various areas of the Algarve and in particular the serious situation facing farmers in the east. Please read the Algarve Report today – thank you Mike

This is mirrored in a feature by Antonia Vignolo a consultant in disaster management and climate change adaption, in a feature for the Algarve Resident out tomorrow, in which she states that there are different measures that governments can take in order to mitigate the impacts of droughts.

Public awareness sessions about water scarcity and conservation can prompt individuals to adopt water saving practices. Recycling and reusing wastewater can help to conserve water resources and reduce the demand for freshwater during droughts. Developing water storage facilities such as dams, reservoirs, and aquifer storage and recovery systems can help to store water during wet periods and supply it during droughts.

Other practices include implementing measures to reduce water demand such as promoting water-efficient technologies, developing drought-tolerant crops, and reducing water-intensive activities. And Adopting land management practices such as reforestation, soil conservation, and reducing soil erosion. Thank you Antonia.

So as you can see this is an issue which is at the top of our minds on our team at Safe Communities, as there are bound to be an increasingly severe impact as droughts intensify – as they will. If you are purchasing property in rural areas we recommend that you do as much research as possible on water supply, as boreholes in some areas are running dry, with owners therefore having reply on water delivery to their homes.

Another impact apart from drought, is that high temperatures and lack of rainfall are related to rural fires. On 18th to 20th May Safe Communities Portugal will have a stand at the ALGARSAFE’23 Portimão International Civil Protection and Relief Fair at the Portimão Arena and the Fairs and Exhibitions Park. Thus is initiative co-organized by the Portimão City Council and the Bombeiros de Portimão, with the support from the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC). With over 70 exhibitors there will be much to see and learn for the whole family.

On Saturday 20th May from 12.00 to 13:00 hrs there will be group presentation with questions and answers on “Disaster Risk Communication for Foreign Communities” facilitated by Safe Communities Portugal. This session will be delivered in English, involving the different players in risk communication and interpretation of warning and alert systems, with the participation of: Republican National Guard, Institute of Nature Conservation and Forestry, National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority and the Municipality of Civil Protection of Portimão.

This is for the foreign community and the presentations will be English There will be much to learn from this as by understanding what, when, and where a disaster might happen, how severe it could be, and who would be most affected. If we don’t understand risk, we can’t manage it. So we ask you to attend.

Registration at the ALGARSAFE’23 secretariat (desk) on the day or by email: eventos@ahbvp.pt. Free registration, limited to the number of places available.

Our team at Safe Communities wish you a safe week ahead.

News

Average Speed Cameras

The new average speed cameras that are planned to be introduced are already being tested in 14 locations. There is still no date for entry into operation. Know where they are and how they will work.

How Average Speed cameras work

The average speed cameras are different from the equipment that is already found in various parts of the national road network and that are also used by the police authorities, namely the PSP and the GNR. There are two devices that are placed at the beginning and end of a section with a high accident rate. The first equipment, equipped with a camera, photographs the license plate and the exact time of passage of the vehicle and the second registers, again, the time and the license plate. These radars then calculate the average speed between the two points to understand whether or not the driver complied with the legal speed limits on the section in question.

Where are they being tested?

Portugal acquired 10 medium speed cameras that will monitor, on a rotating basis, 20 locations with high accident rates. At the moment, the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) is testing them in 14 locations covering national roads, motorways and complementary itineraries, namely on the IC1, in Beja; on the A1 and EN109, in Coimbra; on the A6 and IP2, in Évora; on the EN10, on the EN6-7 and on the IC19, in Lisbon; on the A3, in Porto; on the A1, in Santarém; and on the EN10, EN378, EN4 and IC1, in Setúbal.

What is the difference between a fixed camera and an average speed camera?

Both speed cameras have a deterrent effect and generally force most drivers to reduce speed. Fixed radar works best on a black spot (ie a specific location on a road where serious accidents systematically occur, exacerbated by excessive speed). The average speed radar, on the other hand, is more suitable for roads, where there are sections of a few kilometres with high levels of accidents, and can monitor several lanes.

ANSR’s ambition (supported by experience with this equipment abroad) is for drivers to reduce the speed of movement on these sections and, with that, a decrease in the number of accidents. Traffic speed is one of the main causes of road accidents, in particular accidents with serious injuries and fatalities.

Will the speed cameras be placed at the same distance on all roads?

No. The distance of the installation of the radars and, consequently, the area controlled by the authorities, will depend on the characteristics of each section. Although, on average, these devices cover areas of up to 10 kilometres, they will not stay that far on all roads.

Everything will depend on the specific conditions of the portion of the road to be inspected. According to ANSR, there will be sections that will be between three and four kilometres apart.

Will drivers be warned of the existence of speed cameras?

Yes. In addition to the on-site signage (a traffic sign, H42, was created in 2022), the location and date of entry into operation of the radars will also be published on the ANSR website. There is still no date for the start of operation of the equipment.

Citius computer system that serves the courts collapses

The alert was given by the Union of Judicial Employees, which ensures that the system has collapsed across the country as a result of updates that could last until the end of the week. The Ministry of Justice guarantees that it was “a momentary unavailability, for a period of less than 20 minutes” and that the situation is already normalized.

The Union of Judicial Employees (SFJ) warned this Tuesday that the Citrus computer system “collapsed” across the country, as a result of updates that could last until the end of the week, related to the electronic drawing of processes.

António Marçal, president of the SFJ, told the Lusa agency that he had information that these updates relate to the entry into force this week of the new regime for the electronic drawing of cases in the courts.

The Ministry of Justice reacted, however, to this complaint, guaranteeing that it was “a momentary unavailability, for a period of less than 20 minutes (between 2:05 pm and 2:23 pm), in accessing computer services and telephone numbers of Justice, due to a problem in an equipment”.

“Contrary to what was conveyed through some media, this interruption is not related to the development work to make available the new model for electronic distribution of processes. The normal operation of all systems has already been re-established, after updating the said equipment”, underlined the cabinet of Minister Catarina Sarmento e Castro.

The SFJ pointed out that the problem arises at a time when there are already several other delays in the courts, namely because of the strikes that judicial officials have carried out.

He exemplified with the case of the Court of Seixal, where there are processes for distribution since January 2023, while in the Public Ministry of Seixal the processes to register and distribute are about 2,000, papers to register about 1,500, emails to handle more than 600.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 10th May 2023

Azores break record for passengers disembarking at airports in April

Passengers disembarking at Azores airports in April recorded a new record that month, totalling 176,760, a higher figure than that recorded in 2019, prior to the covid-19 pandemic, according to data revealed by the Regional Statistics Service (SREA).

Compared to the same month in 2019, a period prior to the covid-19 pandemic and in which the Azores had broken a record of arrivals in April, with 147,252 passengers, there was a 20% increase.

According to SREA, all the islands of the Azores showed a “positive year-on-year change in passenger arrivals” in April, with the most accentuated ones in São Jorge (37.1%), São Miguel (28.2%) and Faial (26 .6%).

More than half of the passengers, 105,808 (59.9%), disembarked on the island of São Miguel, the largest in the archipelago.

It was among passengers coming from international flights that there was the biggest increase compared to the same period last year (65.7%), with 18,402 people disembarking at airports in the region in April.

The largest number of passengers disembarking in that month came from the Portuguese mainland or Madeira (86,298), a typology that recorded a year-on-year increase of 23.1%.

As for passengers on inter-island flights (72,060), they registered a growth of 17.7%.

According to SREA, the number of passengers boarded at Azorean airports also increased in April, to a total of 173,925 passengers, 24.3% more than in the same period last year.

Regarding the type of flight, there was “a positive year-on-year variation of 22.7% of passengers boarded on inter-island flights, 19.7% on territorial flights and 66.3% on international flights”.

Festivities of Santo Cristo begin this Tuesday with a preparatory triduum

The biggest religious festivals in the Azores, in honour of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, return in a pre-pandemic format.

After the pandemic, the Festivities of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres resume today, in their normal format, with the preparatory triduum, with two novelties to be noted.

According to Sítio Igreja Açores, the departure of the image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres to the Church of São José immediately follows the sermon that will end the Procession of Changing the Image, together with a midnight Eucharist that will be presided over by the bishop of Angra, especially dedicated to Youth, are the two main innovations in the program of the feast of the Lord that starts today, with the preparatory triduum.

The spiritual preparation for the feast, held at the Igreja do Senhor Santo Cristo, for three days at 6 pm, will be preached by Father José Júlio Rocha, moralist theologian, assistant to the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace and member of the College of Consultants.

Cited by the Azores Church, in a press release, the rector of the Sanctuary of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, Adriano Borges, shows that, “during the pandemic, and after so many constraints, we tried to bring people closer to the image and changed some aspects of the format and the party program. This year, when everything returns to normal, when the pandemic is over and there are no more constraints, we have also returned to what was usual before, in essence”.

Tomorrow, after the triduum mass, there will be the launch of Armando Moreira’s book on Mother Teresa da Anunciada, whose film opens at 9 pm at Teatro Micaelense the following day.

On Friday, mass takes place in the Sanctuary at 8:00 am and 9:00 am. In addition, there will be a mass at 11:00 that will take place in the Church of São José, dedicated to the sick, with the sacrament of the holy anointing.

On Saturday there will be a special mass for the Brotherhood, inside the chapel of the Convent. Then, at 4:20 pm, the Procession of Change takes place, when the provider will ring the ‘Porta Rule’ so that the sisters can deliver the image that will remain in the custody of the brotherhood until the end of the Sunday procession.

This is followed by a solemn Te Deum by the choir of Santa Catarina da Horta, conducted by the Horta ombudsman, Father Marco Luciano Carvalho.

There will also be a sermon at the end and then the image will immediately go to São José, where at 7.30 pm a Eucharist will be celebrated for young people. The image will remain in the Church throughout the night, returning to the Shrine’s courtyard on Sunday for an open-air mass.

On Sunday, the outdoor mass will be at 9:30 am, broadcast by RTP Açores and RTP Internacional. Then, at 3 pm, the solemn procession will leave through the streets of Ponta Delgada, a four-hour tour that will end with the collection of the image to the lower choir of the Convent.

 

The Algarve Report Wednesday 10th May 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all and with the very hot weather here in the region continuing there is now a lot of concern about the amount of water the region around Alcoutim is consuming with one report showing that they are now using the water that they would usually use in the summer. It does beg the question: what will we do in the summer?

The drought is already visible in the fields of the northeast Algarve and is threatening water and food reserves that agricultural and livestock activities should consume in the summer, warned the mayor of Alcoutim.

Osvaldo Gonçalves was referring to the situation in that area of ​​the Algarve and foresees great difficulties for the rest of the year, since water reserves that should only be consumed during the dry season, in summer, are already being used.

“We are advancing the consumption of these reserves and, perhaps, jeopardising some of these reserves for the future, which will deplete, both in terms of aquifers, and in terms of animal feed, permanent meadows and spontaneous vegetation, which at the moment it is dry”, warned the mayor. The mayor of Alcoutim was “painting” a picture of the drought in the municipality of the district of Faro, where the effects of the lack of rain and water are already visible, because “the field is completely dry” and “there is no moisture in the soil”, a identical situation as if the month of June had already arrived.

“I have some fruit trees in my backyard and this year I don’t have any fruit, because the heat itself – and I associate this with the heat at flower height – killed everything”, he exemplified, stressing that he has no scientific data to support this evaluation, based on “what is in everyone’s eyes”.

Osvaldo Gonçalves observed that, in Alcoutim, there is not a great deal of pressure in terms of irrigated agriculture or intensive herds, especially cattle, which consume the most water, and noted that, even in sheep and goats, the pressure is not very relevant, because “unfortunately there have been many more herds than there are at the moment”.

Livestock producers and farmers who still exist in the municipality are already facing difficulties caused by the lack of rain and the drought, which is considered severe in some areas of the eastern Algarve, warned the mayor.

“These people are starting to feel a concern at this moment in relation to what is the present, which are the permanent meadows that should be maintained until, at least, until the end of the month and which, in the meantime, are already becoming completely deteriorated”, justified.

The fodder that was sown was born, but did not progress, the seeds only grew and everything that was planted to ensure subsistence in the coming months “did not mature, nor did it spike”, he added. The same source underlined that the herds are probably already being fed using hay and straw, when they should only be consuming pasture, a reality that obliges livestock farmers to pay additional expenses to meet the needs of the animals.

Meanwhile some of  the Algarve golf courses want connection to WWTP to reduce water consumption.Those responsible for the two largest groups with golf courses in the south of the country stress that they have already taken measures to reduce consumption, but that they still need to start receiving more water from the Wastewater Treatment Stations (WWTP).

The east side of the Algarve is in a situation of severe drought, but the west side also suffers from the worsening lack of rain and water scarcity, which has led the authorities to look for measures that minimise the effects of the drought without harming the main sector of the region, tourism.

“Invest as quickly as possible. We have been talking about investing for two years, but very few concrete steps have been taken on the ground”, said Grupo Pestana administrator for the Algarve, Pedro Lopes.

The official lamented the existence of a series of investments that have been planned for several years and that continue without leaving the drawing board, such as those foreseen in the construction of a desalination plant, in the water networks, in the sewers for the WWTP or in the leaks of the network, among others.

The administrator of the group that owns five of the approximately 40 courses in the Algarve ensures that, in recent years, the reduction in the water used in the irrigation of the five golf courses is of “one third to 40%”, having taken a series of measures , such as using new grass varieties that require less water. The director of Grupo Pestana assured that they are using “a lot less water” than three years ago, insisting that now “it is essential” to connect the golf courses to the WWTP.

Pedro Lopes has no doubt that “the water [from the WWTP] that is wasted today, going into rivers and the sea, can be used on golf courses precisely in the summer, which is when they need it most”.

The director of Grupo Pestana underlined that the 40 golf courses in the south of the country “are always on the lookout for new technologies and ways to save water. Not only because of its cost, but also because it is a very scarce resource”, he underlined.

“There are already three [fields] connected [to WWTP] in the Algarve, but many more have to do this”, underlined Pedro Lopes, insisting on the lack of these stations to provide wastewater. The Pestana Group will start next summer using WWTP water on two of its golf courses in the Algarve, at a time when there are more tourists in the region and the treatment plants are producing more.

While this may be a good solution to the water shortage it should be noted that Golf courses use 5 to 6% of the Algarve water, with 60 to 65% by agriculture, approximately 25% by urban consumption and around 5% by small industries.The full WWTP scheme will not come until 2025.

Now a look at some of the other news from around the region,

18 year old Man found Dead in VRSA

An 18-year-old young man of Ukrainian nationality was found dead on the morning of this Friday, May 5, in Vila Real de Santo António , the Public Security Police ( PSP ) told JA .

The body was found in the attic of the building where he resided, near the Municipal Market of Vila Real de Santo António, after being missing since 11:00 pm on Thursday, May 4, the family having asked the PSP for help, which carried out overnight searches.

Around 07:00 this Friday, the body was found, which was later transported to the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, in Faro, for an autopsy to be carried out, although any evidence of a crime was ruled out.

Three arrested for drug trafficking in Castro Marim

Two men and a woman were arrested on Tuesday, May 2, for drug trafficking in the municipality of Castro Marim , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).

The arrest of the suspects, aged between 50 and 61, was carried out by the Faro Territorial Command , through the Tavira Criminal Investigation Nucleus, after an investigation that had been going on for three years.

The suspects were dedicated to selling narcotics directly to consumers in the municipality of Castro Marim, causing social alarm, uneasiness and a feeling of insecurity in the population.After 13 search warrants, three in homes and 10 in vehicles, 46 doses of marijuana, 93 doses of cocaine, 47 doses of heroin, four precision scales, a shotgun, a machete, a sabre concealed in a cane, a starter gun, three airsoft pistols, six compressed air guns, two vehicles, ammunition of different calibres, material suspected to be from theft and 1882 euros in cash.

Two light vehicles that had been stolen in the municipalities of Tavira and Olhão were also recovered.

This police operation was reinforced by the Faro Intervention Detachment, the Intervention and Special Operations Group, the Intervention and Public Order Group and the collaboration of the Foreigners and Borders Service, Tax Authority, Castro Marim City Council, Social Security and of health.

The detainees were present at the Judicial Court of Faro, for the application of coercive measures.

Boat stranded on the Guadiana had five tons of hashish

The speedboat that was stranded today on a sandbar at the mouth of the Guadiana river , near Vila Real de Santo António , had five tons of narcotics on board, announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).

During a surveillance action at the national maritime border, the military detected the suspicious high-speed vessel entering the mouth of the Guadiana river and began tracking and permanently monitoring it.

While police investigations were carried out by the Coastal Control Sub-detachment of Vila Real de Santo António, the immobilised vessel was detected on that sandbar between Portugal and Isla Canela, in Spain. The vessel, 12 metres long and with four high-powered engines, had 136 bales of hashish and the suspects managed to escape, and it has not been possible to locate them so far.

The facts were communicated to the Judicial Court of Vila Real de Santo António and to the Judiciary Police. As the captain of the port of Vila Real de Santo António, Afonso Martins, told JA, the vessel was also seen by the Maritime Police during the morning, and the Spanish authorities were contacted.

A similar situation occurred in this exact location about two months ago.

25-year-old man dies in motorcycle crash in Vilamoura

A 25-year-old man died on Wednesday, May 3, after the motorcycle he was riding in Vilamoura , in the municipality of Loulé, said a source from the Algarve Sub-regional Command. The alert for the accident was given at 19:45, for a motorcycle skidding.

According to the same source, death was declared on the spot by the doctor from the Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (VMER).Elements from Loulé Firefighters, Albufeira Firefighters and INEM were on site, with a total of 14 operators supported by six vehicles.

The GNR was also at the scene and is investigating the causes of the accident.

One dead in collision with heavy vehicle on IC1 in Messines

One person died today following a collision with a heavy vehicle on the Complementary Route 1 (IC1), in the Corte Pereiro area, in Messines, said a source from the sub-regional command of the Algarve.

According to the same source, the accident, which occurred at 10:26 am and involved a heavy vehicle and a light vehicle, whose driver is the fatal victim, forced traffic to be cut in both directions, next to Corte Pereiro, in the district of Faro . .

By 12:30 pm, 23 firefighters, the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM), GNR and Infraestruturas de Portugal were still on site, supported by 11 vehicles. The truck driver was assisted on site by the rescue team, but did not need to be transported to any health unit.

Authorities are now investigating the causes of the accident.

GNR detained 18 people during inspection

The National Republican Guard (GNR) detained 18 people aged between 16 and 54 in the municipality of Albufeira during policing and combating crime, announced the security force.

Nine people were arrested for drug trafficking, four for driving under the influence of alcohol , two for illicit image recording and one for driving without a legal licence.

During the inspection, 353 doses of cocaine, 106 doses of hashish, 21 grams of ecstasy, 18 doses of cannabis, 1545 euros in cash, 60 pounds, seven mobile phones, a knife, three Of the 18 detainees, five of them remained at the GNR premises and were presented at the Judicial Court of Albufeira, one of them having been decreed the coercive measure of pre-trial detention for drug trafficking and sent to the Silves Prison.identification documents and a high-capacity vehicle were seized during the inspection.

Have a good week. Until the next time.

 

The Azores Situation Report Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Atlânticoline management wants to bet on the decarbonization of ships.

The nominee chairman of the board of directors of Atlânticoline, Francisco Bettencourt, pointed to the decarbonization of maritime passenger transport in the Azores as the company’s big bet in the future.

“Decarbonization is the future, it is our big bet”, said the administrator of the public company for maritime transport of passengers and vehicles in the archipelago, who was heard today at the Economy commission of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores, meeting in Angra do Heroísmo, following his nomination for chairman of the board of directors.

Francisco Bettencourt was referring to the “innovative bet” already announced in April by the regional secretary of Finance, Duarte Freitas, to order the construction of two electric ships to operate in the Triangle islands (Faial, Pico and São Jorge), to replace the current vessels, diesel powered.

Atlânticoline’s administrator, who has been a member of the Board of Directors for the last 12 months, and who is now proposed by the Government of the Azores (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) for president of the company, recalled that fuel expenses currently represent quite high costs in the company’s structure.

As he explained, the public tender that the region intends to launch for the construction of future electric vessels should be ready in September or October, although there are still some doubts about how the batteries of the ships will be charged, especially in the ports of the island of Pico, where the scales for boarding and disembarking passengers and vehicles take only 15 minutes, as a rule.

Francisco Bettencourt expressed, on the other hand, satisfaction with the fact that the shipyards of Madalena do Pico, currently managed by Tecnovia, are being prepared to dock the Atlânticoline ships, so that they do not have to go to Lisbon for maintenance or certification.

The company’s administrator also highlighted the “good operating results” recorded in recent years, which made it possible to settle Atlânticoline’s debts and balance its treasury.

Pre-trial detention for two suspects of several thefts in São Miguel

Two men were held in pre-trial detention for being suspected of various crimes of theft on the island of São Miguel, in the Azores, including theft of goods vehicles allegedly used in robberies, revealed the PSP.

According to the Regional Command of the Azores of the PSP, in addition to those two men, the police detained, on the 26th of April, a third suspect, who was left with “the measure of coercion of mandatory periodical presentations before the authorities”.

The PSP adds, in a press release, that the three men are 43, 42 and 29 years old, two of them with “criminal records”.

The arrests took place following several investigations “into various thefts of light goods vehicles” that have taken place on the island of São Miguel and which “have been widely referenced on social networks and through the media in the region”, explains the PSP.

In this specific case, the vehicles are stolen using “false keys” and the vehicles are later abandoned “in isolated places”, after having been “used to break into commercial establishments”, through “the rear of the vehicles hitting the doors” of the stores.

Also, according to the police, the suspects were transporting “tobacco vending machines” in their vehicles that they allegedly stole from inside establishments.

PSP investigations and the collection of evidence at the sites reveal that “the defendants are potential suspects of having been acting in collusion in several robberies of this type on the island of S. Miguel”, adds the police.

The PSP refers that the three men are suspected “of at least five crimes of aggravated theft, a crime of simple theft and several crimes of theft of vehicle use”.

But the police admit that the detainees may be associated with other similar robberies, under investigation, and that there may be more arrests of other defendants “related to the theft of vans on the island of São Miguel”.

Azores have 44 beaches and six Blue Flag marinas.

The 44 beaches awarded with the Blue Flag in the Azores archipelago are spread over ten different municipalities.

The Azores archipelago has 44 beaches this year – two more than in 2022 – and six marinas distinguished with the blue flag, spread over 10 municipalities of the archipelago, as announced yesterday by the Blue Flag Association of Europe.

Among the beaches distinguished with this symbol of environmental quality, there is a new bathing area, namely Calhetas da Maia, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, and there are also records of two re-entries, one at Piscina do Carapacho and one at Praia, both located in Santa Cruz da Graciosa. There is also an exit, namely Prainha, located in Angra do Heroísmo.

It is on the island of São Miguel that most of the award-winning beaches are found, with the attribution of 19 blue flags of this nature.

In the municipality of Ribeira Grande, there are five distinguished bathing areas, namely Areal de Santa Bárbara, Poças da Ribeira Grande, Calhetas, Moinhos and Calhetas da Maia, as well as in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, where there is a blue flag in Forno da Cal, Milícias, Pópulo, Poços de São Vicente Ferreira and Poças Sul dos Mosteiros.
In Lagoa, there are three distinguished bathing areas, namely Caloura, Baixa da Areia and Zona Balnear da Lagoa, followed by Vila Franca do Campo, also with three distinguished bathing areas, Água d’Alto, Prainha de Água d’Alto and Vinha of Areia, respectively.

Also, in Povoação there are three awarded beaches this year, namely Portinho do Faial da Terra, Praia do Fogo and Morro.

The information provided also makes it known that on the island of Terceira there are 13 beaches distinguished with this flag, seven of which are in the municipality of Praia da Vitória and six in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, and on the island of Faial there are four awarded beaches.

As for the island of Graciosa, it now has four zones with the blue flag, the same as the island of Santa Maria.

With regard to the six Azorean marinas distinguished with the blue flag, the information states that these concern Marina da Horta, Marina da Praia da Vitória, Marina de Ponta Delgada, Marina de Vila do Porto, Núcleo de Recreio Náutico das Lajes do Pico and Sailing Nautical Recreation Nucleus.

In addition, three Ecotourism vessels also received the blue flag in the Azores, namely Terra Azul, Terra Azul I and Terra Azul III, all based in Vila Franca do Campo.

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Good morning – Yesterday the President of the IPMA, Miguel Miranda, forecast in the coming months the continuation of high temperatures, absence of precipitation and very high fire danger. He added that the objective is not to be alarmist, but realistic and to act preventively.

Since February we have had little precipitation. The probability of precipitation from here until the summer is low and, therefore, we will have tension in many areas, in the environment, in supply, in dams, resulting in fires. Miguel Miranda stressed that the risk of fire will have high levels, highlighting that everyone has to prepare for the summer and balance the economy with the lives of citizens.

He added that February was a hot and dry month and April was marked by three heat waves, with 89% of the territory in a drought situation, with 34% in severe and extreme drought (South Region).

The Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro, told journalists that the Government has been raising awareness among institutions and municipalities to have fire defence plans prepared, but also people with regard to cleaning the land.

“People should go to city councils, municipal civil protection services, they should go to fire departments and try to maintain cleaning work (…) always accompanied by municipal civil protection teams or firefighters in order to who can do it while safeguarding their lives and assets”, said José Luís Carneiro.

It is extremely important that land cleaning continues and people are encouraged to approach councils and seek assistance when needed. Undertaking extensive land cleaning alone in increasing hot temperatures can pose risks in itself, both the risk to health, accidents and causing fires if ill prepared to undertake the burning of debris. It is better to get assistance rather than take risks.

We also ask our readers to familiarize yourselves of actions to take should a rural fire break out in your area which develops to a stage which it could affect your property. It is important to have a plan of action to take and also in the event an evacuation becomes necessary. It is also essential that all family members are involved in the plan. If you have animals it is important that these are taken into account.

As we move into the summer, we strongly advise everyone, especially those living in rural areas to study the daily fire risk, to determine the risk not only in the area where you living, but also you maybe be visiting. This is posted daily on this page. As we have previously stressed the potential intensity of fires is important, as well as understanding how fires develop and spread.

There has been some great work undertaken by the security forces in the recent seizures of several large quantities of drugs en-route to Portugal as a landing point; the eventual destination being mainly northern Europe. The latest is by the Judicial Police through the National Unit to Combat Narcotics Trafficking, of around 4.2 tonnes of cocaine originating in Latin America. The drugs in question, which has a high degree of purity, was transported to Portugal by sea concealed in a shipment of fruit on pallets, more specifically bananas, which entered national territory through the Port of Setúbal.

This seizure is the result of the intense activity of gathering information carried out by the Judiciary Police, in close articulation with the authorities of other countries and with various national entities. Such drugs have considerable value, but more importantly is the damage to health and often death such drug abuse brings. This year is likely to be one of the highest in terms of drug seizures by Portugal, most being hashish and cocaine.

Our team at Safe Communities wish you an enjoyable and safe week ahead.

News

89% of the territory is in drought and a hot May is coming

The forecasts advanced by the IPMA at the meeting that also included the presidents of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) and the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests point to a “month of May that is hotter than normal and without rain”. After months with below normal precipitation values ​​and above normal temperatures.

With April being among the five hottest since there are records, with three heat waves and temperatures above 30. º. In terms of fire risk, April was “the most severe since 2003 and by a wide margin”. In addition, explains the IPMA in a statement that the accumulated burned area in 2023 “is above the average of the last 16 years, both in Portugal and in Austria, Ireland or Spain”.

Factors that, combined, increase the risk of fire, with the Minister of Internal Administration revealing that “ANEPC determined the constitution of 40 teams; more than 200 elements that are prepositioned in the territory to mobilize”. Reinforcing, quoted by Lusa, the importance and urgency of land clearing.

Looking at the meteorological drought, it has already spread to 89% of the territory, with 34% referring to the most serious classes (severe and extreme), affecting the Alentejo and the Algarve. On the other hand, “the percentage of water in the soil is almost zero in several areas of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, in the centre and south of the Continent”.

“The probability of precipitation from here until the summer is low and, therefore, we will have tension in many areas, in the environment, in supply, in dams, in fires”, he said, quoted by Lusa, the president of IPMA. The Minister for the Environment reaffirmed that “measures could be taken from a contingency point of view” given the lack of supply capacity in some areas of the country.

Mosquitos in Portugal are “Under control”

We have entered mosquito season. From May to October, technicians working in the REVIVE surveillance program have their hands full. It is necessary to know the species that enter the country and where they live. In recent years, Aedes albopictus, the vector of the Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya viruses, has been a major concern, but has so far been controlled. “It is unlikely that there will be outbreaks for the time being”, says an INSA researcher speaking to DN.

In the biologist’s lists, there are at least 100 invasive species in the world, but there is only one mosquito, Aedes albopictus. And it is this that is now cause for concern. However, in Portugal, 40 species of mosquitoes have already been identified. Aedes albopictus (Asian Tiger mosquito) is of Asian origin, originating in Japan, and a vector for Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya viruses. The researcher at the Department of Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health Ricardo Jorge (INSA) and coordinator of the National Vector Surveillance Network (REVIVE), Maria João Alves, says that, for now, “what has been found in the country makes us believe that the species is under control and that there is a very low probability of having autochthonous cases and outbreaks”.

However, she points out: “We cannot say that there is no possibility of outbreaks, because Aedes albopictus is a vector, and things can change at any moment, but in the surveillance that we have been carrying out in this area for over 15 years, we have never found infected mosquitoes and for these to be able to infect people, there would have to be a combination of factors, such as greatly increasing their abundance and having a person infected with Dengue, coming from a tropical area, who would settle precisely in a region of Portugal where this mosquito exists, to be able to infect mosquitoes that are not infected”.

But this alone is not enough. That is, even if there is an abundance of mosquitoes and weather conditions are favourable for transmitting the virus to the mosquito, which would happen due to the fact that it “feeds” on human blood, the infection would only take place if the person settled in that region within the first five days as a carrier of the virus, which means that the risk of having autochthonous cases of Dengue, Zika or Chikungunya, in other places outside their natural habitat, is very low.

However, what we want is to keep the number of specimens as low as possible so that there is no possibility of transmission of infectious agents”. She stressed, being bitten by a mosquito does not mean one contracts any of the diseases (dengue, zika, chikungunya) that this species carries.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 3rd May 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all and welcome to the latest Algarve Report. The 8th of May is designated as Road Safety Day and one of the topics to be discussed at a seminar in Albufeira is the rise of E-Scooters. The rise in numbers of these vehicles across the world and especially in Europe have caused many countries to make new laws to try and curb their use. In Finland more people are injured on e-scooters, than you are on a motorbike, or while cycling, driving or walking.

In the Algarve there are more and more rental companies offering these scooters to tourists so this is an extremely relevant subject to discuss. The event has the collaboration of the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), Portuguese Road Prevention (PRP) and the Faro Traffic Detachment of the Territorial Command of the National Republican Guard (GNR) of Faro, where issues such as “the legal framework and the legislation in force in the field of electric vehicles, namely scooters and electric bicycles, risks and safe behaviour when driving these vehicles and the importance of supervision”, according to the statement issued by the Event organisers.

There is an average of 12 accidents per month with scooters in Portugal, according to data from Public Safety Police (PSP) for the period between 2019 and 2021

Negligence in driving these vehicles explains most of the accidents, according to the PSP, which warns that the severity of these accidents has been increasing in the last two years, with more light and serious injuries to report.

The initiative will take place at the Municipal Auditorium of Albufeira from 14:00, with free participation but with mandatory prior registration until May 5th via telephone 925 531 045 or 289 599 598.

Now for a brief look at some of the other news from across the Algarve.

3 Injured in Road Accident near Praia Verde

A road accident that took place on the night of Wednesday, April 26, at the intersection of Praia Verde , in the municipality of Castro Marim , caused three injuries, two of them seriously, according to Arenilha TV.

The two seriously injured were a 36-year-old National Republican Guard soldier and a 71-year-old woman, who were transported to the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, in Faro.The area is a place where road accidents often take place, and the population and the municipality have been demanding the construction of a roundabout for several years.

There were 21 operators on site, supported by eight vehicles, while traffic was conditioned.

Water Level at Bravura Reservoir are Down Again

The drought has worsened at the Bravura Reservoir , in the western Algarve, now with 600,000 cubic metres less water than a year ago, forcing farmers to look for alternatives to get around an increasingly complicated scenario.

In one of the country’s most critical reservoirs, the restriction on the use of water for irrigation imposed since February 2022 led dozens of farmers and two golf courses to resort to two boreholes – a situation that will be repeated this year –, while the association which manages the structure, in the municipality of Lagos , and the irrigation perimeter of Alvor, is studying the possibility of more holes and preparing a large-scale project to stop water losses.

“We have much less water than we had last year. Last year was already a very complicated year for our associates and for our irrigators. And this year, life is very difficult”, said António Marreiros, president of the Association of Irrigants and Beneficiaries of Alvor (ARBA).

The director explained that, compared to the same period last year (April 2022), the level dropped from 5,300,000 cubic metres to 4,700,000 cubic metres of water, generating more concern among the 937 beneficiaries covered by the irrigation perimeter .

According to the National Water Resources Information System, on the last day of March 2023, the volume of water in Bravura was 4.747 million cubic metres of water, equivalent to 13.6% of the 34.82 million cubic metres of total storage capacity.

Built in 1958, this dam supplies around 1,800 hectares of farms in the hydro-agricultural perimeter of Alvor, with a total of 937 beneficiaries. The worsening of the drought last year led the Government to restrict the use of water for irrigation from Bravura, serving only for public supply, a measure that this year began ten days earlier than in 2022.

“Last year we started later to supply water to Águas do Algarve and this year we are already supplying 60 litres per second for the water supply to Lagos, Aljezur and Vila do Bispo”, said António Marreiros.

Given the impossibility of irrigation, 30 farmers and two golf courses were served by two boreholes in the Penina area, in the municipality of Portimão, but for farmers in the Odiáxere area, Lagos, no similar alternative was found. “The APA [Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente], exceptionally last year, authorised the opening of some holes in our irrigation perimeter and this year, if this continues and if the farmers so understand, possibly a few more holes will be authorised for to be able to save permanent crops, that is, fruit trees”, pointed out the president of ARBA.

The association is carrying out surveys in some land to try to find water “with quality and quantity” in the subsoil, still without success, and hopes that treated wastewater will be used to irrigate golf courses.

With the use of boreholes, energy consumption has doubled for some producers, although there is a tendency to decrease. “It is unthinkable for a person to have a large crop with water from the holes, because the products are much more expensive. And when we go to the market, we notice that vegetables are more expensive”, he stressed.

To modernise a structure that is more than 60 years old, the irrigation association has already made an investment of 1.7 million euros in waterproofing the supply channels at the Vale da Lama distributor, over a length of ten kilometres, waiting for the use of water for irrigation to be implemented again.

“Unfortunately, we still haven’t managed to put water there. It was an important work, but now we lack the water to put it there. There’s always evaporation, it’s still an open-air channel, but it reduces water losses to a great extent. If we had water, losses of 20% or 30% would decrease to 6 or 7%”, estimated António Marreiros. However, the largest work on the irrigation perimeter of Alvor, worth seven million euros, with support from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), consists of pressurising the system, to “drastically” and “brutally” eliminate ” water losses.

“The team of designers is working on the project. It is expected that the project will be completed by the end of the year, so that we can launch the tender for the physical work, on the ground, to start next year”, advanced the associative leader.

Still in the western Algarve, but in Aljezur, the problem of drought is also felt and the situation will force to “accelerate” all the projects on the table to find alternative solutions, stressed the mayor. Immediately, said José Gonçalves, “the requirement to reduce consumption as much as possible” involves pedagogy and a constant campaign with consumers and a more effective control of municipal equipment and public buildings.

Couple Arrested at Faro Airport on Drug Charges

A couple, aged 36 and 37 have been arrested at Faro airport with 12.9 kilos of cocaine concealed in their luggage, arriving in Faro on a flight originating in Brazil. Both were remanded in custody.

According to the Judicial Police, the couple were detained following an inspection carried out by the customs officers at Faro airport, but did not specify the day on which the detention took place.The authorities also seized an unspecified amount of euro banknotes and other objects related to the crime, said the PJ.

After being present at the first judicial interrogation in Faro, both were subject to preventive detention.

Truck Driver Injured when Lorry Collides with Toll Booths on A2

A truck driver was injured yesterday afternoon, after having collided with the tolls booths on the A2, in Paderne. The vehicle collided and was stuck on top of a ‘rail’ protecting one of the toll lanes on the A2 motorway, in the south-north direction.

The driver of the truck,  around 40 years old, suffered minor injuries and was rescued by a team from the Albufeira Fire Department and an INEM medical team, later being transported to the Albufeira Basic Emergency Service. The GNR took care of directing traffic until the truck was removed from the site.

Brazilian lifeguards to reinforce surveillance on Algarve beaches this Summer

The Algarve beach concessions are having difficulties attracting lifeguarding candidates.Due to this lack of applications, Marines have been called in to help with surveillance on the Algarve’s beaches.Shortage of applicants marks post-covid, with just 20 candidates in Praia da Rocha this year.

To resolve the lack of candidates on national soil, the region is preparing to receive Brazilian professionals, who are currently available as it’s the low season in their country of origin.

SIC television channel reported live from Praia da Rocha this week, where from May 1, every beach concession will have its own lifeguards thanks to the additional support. The team coming from Brazil will be made up of 15 lifeguards, helped by a motorbike, a quad bike and a rescue drone.

In total, around 120 lifeguards are coming from Brazil to support various areas of the Algarve, such as Alvor and Albufeira, where the season officially kicks off on May 15. In the meantime, the Praia dos Pescadores beach in Albufeira was the only one guarded all year round. The municipality invested in continuous surveillance to become a year-round beach destination. Portimão is said to follow suit as it considers testing this measure on its beaches.

Man Detained on Drug Charges in Sagres

A 36-year-old man was remanded in custody for drug trafficking on April 28, in the Sagres area , in the municipality of Vila do Bispo , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).

This man sold narcotic products in various places in the county and was identified after an investigation that had been going on for two months.

During an operation that led to the suspect’s arrest, two house searches were carried out and one in a vehicle, where 524 doses of heroin, 371 doses of cocaine, 1.5 grams of MDMA, a vehicle, and six bottles of nitrous oxide were seized. 211 grams of sodium bicarbonate, 300 grams of creatine, a knife with drug residue, a scale with drug residue, five mobile phones and 1660 euros in cash.

The suspect was detained at the GNR premises and was present at the Judicial Court of Portimão.

Man Detained on Suspicion of Attempted Murder In Olhao

The police arrested a man for the crime of homicide , after he had a falling out and attacked another man, with a bladed weapon, on Wednesday, April 26, in Olhão , announced the Public Security Police (PSP).

The man is 61 years old, lives in Olhão, was detained “in flagrante delicto”, is “suspected of the crime of attempted homicide, and was held in preventive detention, the most serious coercive measure, by decision of the court of instruction where he was present to undergo the first judicial interrogation, the security force specified in a statement.

The authorities were called to respond to an “occurrence of physical aggression in the city of Olhão” and, upon arriving at the scene, PSP agents found the suspect “in possession of a bladed weapon and with traces of blood”. “The victim was lying on the ground with serious and visible injuries, requiring immediate help, which was provided by INEM [National Institute of Medical Emergency]”, added the Faro District Command of the PSP.

The police elements ended up approaching the aggressor, who collaborated with the instructions of the PSP and was arrested “without resorting to the use of force”, said the security force.

The evidence collected in the preliminary investigations shows that the victim and the aggressor knew each other and that the conflict was caused by a “personal misunderstanding”.

The injuries suffered led the victim to be admitted to the Faro unit of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA), from which he was discharged the following day, the PSP also indicated.

7 Arrested for Illegal Gambling In Almancil

Seven men aged between 25 and 53 were accused on April 19 for illegal gambling in Almancil , in the municipality of Loulé , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).

During an inspection of catering and beverage establishments, the GNR military detected the seven individuals illegally gambling, playing for money.

The GNR also seized 3480 euros in cash and a deck of cards used in the practice of the game.The suspects were made defendants and the facts communicated to the Judicial Court of Loulé.

Have a Safe Week.