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Situation Reports news and reviews

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 12th April 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all and with the weather almost like summer and the temperatures rising on a daily basis it is an opportune time to highlight the issues surrounding beach and sea safety. Whilst for many of us the sea temperature is still too low we are seeing many people who are venturing in without understanding the issues which can occur at this time of the year. The Alagrve in particular still has some very strong spring tides which create large swells and erode the sand close to the beach which, if people are not aware, can cause accidents.

Already this past week we have seen a number of sea based accidents with fatalities where people have been caught up in Rip tides. Also at this time of year most beaches are without lifeguards so this adds another element of danger if people get into difficulty.

The sun and the heat may seem like the ideal invitation to take a few dives, but it takes extra attention. If you are going to the beach in the next few days, know the care to take.

HOW DO I IDENTIFY A RIP CURRENT?

A rip current is a narrow, fast-moving channel of water that starts near the beach and extends offshore through the line of breaking waves.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF CAUGHT IN ONE?

If you do get caught in a rip current, the best thing you can do is stay calm. It’s not going to pull you underwater, it’s just going to pull you away from shore.

Call and wave for help.

You want to float, and you don’t want to swim back to shore against the rip current because it will just tire you out. You want to swim out of the rip, parallel to shore, along the beach and then follow breaking waves back to shore at an angle.

Whilst we expect warm sunny weather at this time of year it is worth knowing that the average temperatures over the coming month will be around 5 degrees warmer than we have had in previous years so if you have guests arriving from colder climates please make sure they are aware that the UV rays here in the Algarve can be very high at this time of year.

Here is a look at some of the stories that have been happening across the Algarve in the past week.

Sea Search For Missing American Suspended

The aquatic searches for the US citizen who has been missing since Friday were suspended this Monday at the end of the afternoon, said the local commander of the Lagos Maritime Police, indicating that in the coming days they will only continue searches on land .

“Today is the first day that we have carried out underwater searches, which we suspended after the entire area of ​​rocks and caves where the victim could be trapped had been searched”, said Pedro Palma, adding that the perimeter of searches at sea covered about 1,400 metres.

The 27-year-old US citizen has been missing since Friday, after having dived from a cliff, in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, in the Algarve, the diving operation having started this morning, as conditions had not previously been met. were favourable, owing to the rough seas. On Sunday, a team of divers from the Maritime Police tried three times to look for the missing young man, next to the cliff, but the sea conditions always prevented the submariners from carrying out an underwater check, clarified the local commander of the Maritime Police of Lagos.

According to Pedro Palma, sea and underwater searches will not be repeated, since the degree of uncertainty as to the location of the body is very high, and from now on, only land searches will continue.

“In the next few days we will continue with land searches on the sand of the nearby beaches – Martinhal, Zavial, Ingrina -, with patrols by firefighters and the Maritime Police”, concluded that official. The man was walking, accompanied by a person, along a cliff between Praia do Barranco and Praia da Ingrina, when he allegedly dived into the sea, eventually disappearing.

The alert for the disappearance was received around 20:00 on Friday.

After the incident, the Maritime Police Psychology Office provided support to the person accompanying the victim.

VRSA Lifeguard Station Assists Youth in Difficulties

Last Wednesday, the crew of the Vila Real de Santo António Lifeguard Station (VRSA) helped a 17-year-old who suffered a “possible dislocation” of an upper limb following a dive on the beach on the island of Tavira , announced the National Maritime Authority .

Following an alert received at 5:05 pm, via the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisbon), reporting a drowning situation on the beach of the island of Tavira, elements of the Local Command were activated for the scene. the Maritime Police of Tavira, the Lifeguard Station of Vila Real de Santo António, as well as the Municipal Fire Department of Tavira.

Upon arrival at the scene, it was found that the victim, a 17-year-old boy, was on land and had a “possible dislocation” in one of his upper limbs, which he would have suffered following a dive, having been promptly assisted on site with the support of the Lifeguard Station crew and firefighters. The victim was later transported by the crew of the Estação Salva-vidas to the Quatro Águas pier, where an ambulance from the Municipal Fire Department of Tavira was waiting to transport the victim to a hospital unit.

Algarve Train Line resumed after Fatal Collision in Portimão

Train circulation on the Algarve Line resumed at 00:05 this Thursday, after a collision in Portimão, which killed one person this Wednesday night, said a Civil Protection source.

A source from the Algarve Sub-regional Command had said that the accident occurred on the Portimão railway bridge and that the victim is a 33-year-old man of Pakistani nationality.

The alert for the train being run over by the train travelling east-west was given at 10:30 pm on Wednesday and traffic was interrupted.The same source added that train circulation had been restored since 00:05 today.

Elements of INEM and local firefighters were on site, with a total of 13 operators supported by five vehicles.

Two Arrested for Drug Trafficking

Two people aged 35 and 46 were arrested on the night of Monday, April 3, in Portimão , for drug trafficking, announced the Public Security Police (PSP). The arrest was made by the Faro District Command of the PSP , through the Portimão Criminal Investigation Squadron, after a surveillance action.

130 doses of cocaine were seized, 3000 euros that may come from illicit activity, an electric gun and various materials for cutting, weighing and packaging.

Man Arrested for Violent Crimes In Olhao

A 41-year-old man was arrested on March 29, in Olhão , on suspicion of committing several violent crimes , announced the Public Security Police (PSP).

The arrest was made by the Faro District Command of the PSP, through the Olhão Police Station, after an investigation carried out over the last year.

The detainee, residing in Olhão, is accused of aggravated threat crimes, aggravated theft, damage, resistance and coercion against an employee, aggravated coercion, offence to qualified physical integrity, possession of a prohibited weapon and aggravated theft. The man was presented to the judicial authority on March 31 and was remanded in custody. 

GNR Make 69 Arrests In Algarve Over Easter

69 people were arrested in the last week, 3 to 9 April, in the Algarve, according to the latest GNR report. Of these 69 arrests, 25 were for driving under the influence of alcohol, 23 for driving without a licence and five for drug trafficking. 49 doses of hashish, 22 of cocaine and a pistol were also seized.

450 people were issued with fines of which 218 for speeding, 51 for lack of mandatory periodic inspection, 42 related to anomalies in the lighting and signalling systems, 23 for improper use of the cell phone, 16 for lack of civil liability insurance and 15 for missing or incorrect use of the seat belt and/or child restraint system.

Across the Algarve there were also 126 accidents, which resulted in six serious injuries and 22 minor injuries.

Faro to Get More CCTV cameras to Combat Crime

The main road axes and several points in downtown Faro will have video surveillance systems for the purpose of crime prevention. The contract for the installation of a total of 32 cameras, of four different types, was awarded last March, representing an investment of more than 550 thousand euros, informed the Council of Faro in a statement.

The works foresee the expansion of the fibre optic network and the preparation of the support infrastructures for the installation of the system in “specific locations”, namely in the shopping area, on the main road axes and downtown.

According to the municipality, video surveillance will make it possible to monitor public and private property and “prevent crimes in places where there is a reasonable risk of their occurrence”.“At the same time, it will allow the prevention and repression of road violations”, reads the note.

The system is capable of capturing and recording audio “whenever there is a situation of concrete danger to the safety of people and property”.

The cameras will be operated by the Public Security Police (PSP), working uninterruptedly 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

 

Madeira Situation Report Wednesday 5th April 2023

by Daniel Fernandes

Closure of escarpment overlooking Estrada dos Anjos

The Municipality of Ponta do Sol informed the escarpment overlooking Estrada dos Anjos has been closed since April 3rd and will remain closed until April 14th. The closure will happen daily from 08h30 to 17h00.

This is due to scheduled work to remove big blocks of rock in order to restore safety conditions for locals and visitors.

Pedestrians and vehicles will not be able to access Estrada dos Anjos, in the area between Bairro do Passo and Poios.

Residents and agricultural owners will have limited access to their properties. Access to their properties will need to be approved by the Municipal workers carrying out the work.

Civil Protection participated in 19 evacuation exercises throughout March

The Regional Civil Protection Service participated in 19 evacuation exercises in Madeira’s schools throughout March as part of the “Risk Prevention and Safety Education” (“Educação para a Segurança e Prevenção de Riscos”) project.

In addition to being legally mandatory, these exercises help the school community acquire safety habits, and enable the detection of any shortcomings in the existing Emergency Plans.

A number of external institutions take part in these exercises, particularly the Fire Service which operates in the municipality where the school is located, the Public Security Police (PSP). Experts from the Regional Education, Science and Technology Secretariat, the Regional Civil Protection Service, IP-RAM (Infraestruturas de Portugal – Madeira), and the Municipal  Civil Protection Service.

Heavy seas warning

A warning against heavy seas has been issued and will be in place until 18h00 (April 5th).

On the North Coast, waves that could be 3-4 metres-high and then be 2.5-3.5 metres-high are expected to come from the North/North-West.

On the South Coast, waves that could be 1-2 metres-high are expected to come from the West/South-West.

Winds is forecast to blow from the North and could be strong until the beginning of the afternoon.

Visibility will be good to moderate.

Winds are forecast to blow from the same direction and are likely to be up to 65 km/h, with gusts of up to 120 km/h.

As a result, vessel owners are advised to adopt the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and that of their vessels.

Power cut

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

CANIÇO

April 5th – 09h00 to 09h30 (TODAY)

– Moinhos

GAULA

April 5th – 09h00 to 09h30

– Achada da Rocha

CÂMARA DE LOBOS

April 10th – 08h30 to 12h30

– Urbanização Coolobos

April 10th – 13h30 to 16h00

– Rua Padre Pita Ferreira (partial)

– Travessa da Pedreira (partial)

– Caminho do Curral Velho (numbers 1 to 50)

– Caminho do Palheiro (number 93)

– Rua do Laranjal (numbers 62, 65, 82, 84, 90 and 95)

– Vereda do Corgo (number 5)

– Vereda do Júlio (numbers 3 and 10)

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

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

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 5th April 2023

by Christopher Noble

New head of the Armed Forces promises to “do everything” to supervise the sea in the Azores. 

The new head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA), Nunes da Fonseca, promised to “do everything” to supervise the sea in the Azores, while the president of the Regional Government asked for means to protect marine areas.

“Obviously, the Armada has well-defined and well-staggered missions on the ground, according to its capabilities. We will honour this commitment [to protect the sea]. And we are going to do everything we can to continue fulfilling this mission, which is very important”, said Nunes da Fonseca.

The general was speaking at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Regional Government, in Ponta Delgada, after an audience with the leader of the Azorean executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), José Manuel Bolieiro.

In early February, the Government of the Republic proposed the appointment of General Nunes da Fonseca as CEMGFA, with effect from March 1, 2023.

Nunes da Fonseca recalled that the protection of the sea is an “inherent responsibility to the activity of the Armed Forces” and reiterated the “availability” to support the region in search and rescue and civil protection missions.

“I expressed the availability of the Armed Forces to continue to serve within the limits of their capabilities, with rationality and balance, the populations of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, fulfilling not only military missions, but also other important missions in the archipelago”, he declared.

The president of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, praised the “link between the Armed Forces and the Azorean people”, exemplifying with the aid in supplying the island of Flores during the month of March or the support to the population of the island of São Jorge during the crisis seismo-volcanic in 2022.

Emphasizing the “strategic importance of the Azores in the national context”, Bolieiro warned of the need for means for marine protection.

“Faced with the new challenges, with regard to new technologies and the protection of our sea, the new protected marine reserve areas or even the size of our Exclusive Economic Zone, there is also this expectation that the means, all of them, whether level of the Army, Navy or Air Force, to be able to monitor the availability”, he stressed.

On Monday, the President of the Government of the Azores announced the creation of an interdepartmental commission with the aim of issuing “fundamental” political guidelines that will lead to the final phase of the network of marine protected areas in the archipelago.

Several commercial spaces in Ponta Delgada target of thefts 

Supermarkets located in Arrifes, Capelas, Livramento, São Sebastião and São Vicente Ferreira were “attacked” yesterday at dawn.

Five commercial spaces, mostly supermarkets, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada were the target of theft or attempted theft, in the early hours of Thursday.

As confirmed by Açoriano Oriental with a source from the Regional Command of the PSP of the Azores, the incidents were recorded in Arrifes, Capelas, Livramento, São Vicente Ferreira and São Sebastião.

Some commercial spaces, such as a supermarket located in Vila Faia, parish of Livramento, were vandalized, with the intention of theft. In this case, the theft was actually consummated, with the theft of an automatic tobacco machine.

The PSP adds that it was called to the locations and is investigating what happened.

Some of the commercial spaces were equipped with video surveillance circuits, which can help the investigation and be an added value for the authorities to reach possible suspects for the criminal acts.

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 5th April 2023

Good morning – On Monday the Minister of Internal Administration (MAI) warned that 2023 will be “even more difficult” than 2022 in fighting forest fires, asking people and institutions to prepare.

“What I can say is that for all the indicators we have today, the year 2023 will be even more difficult than the year 2022 was”, said José Luís Carneiro to journalists adding that everyone has to do their part. “We have to prepare, we are preparing, but it is clear that the means are always limited in emergency circumstances and what we have to do is each one’s part”, he stressed.

Although some may dismiss this as a political statement, it was the same Minister who last year warned that forthcoming heatwaves would be more severe in 2022 than that of 2017 – and he was right.

What the Minister is in effect saying that there is only so much the government can do to prevent and fight fires when they occur – and since 2017 they have done a great deal. However extreme weather conditions have increased and as a result there is the potential for fires to burn with greater intensity putting larger areas at risk.

All of us in the community have a role to play. Firstly land cleaning. Remember land cleaning must be completed by 30th April 2023. Doing this will reduce the risk of a fire affecting your home. Institutions as well must carry out land cleaning close to roads and either side of power cables etc.

We all know that fire fighters and I mean by that all entities involved: Bombeiros, GNR, Forest Sappers, aircraft pilots and the civil protection special force do an incredible job, as a team, in fighting fires – BUT resources are finite and in major fires there cannot be a “fire fighter behind every tree.”  If there is a fire, therefore, knowing what steps to take before fire fighters arrive is vitally important and can save casualties.

The minister’s statement reinforces the repeated advice, since the beginning of the year, that Safe Communities Portugal has provided through: the media, Facebook, radio and through our newsletter. Be aware and be prepared!

It is important to check if you are living in a high risk area. Use this link to monitor your area’s risk:

https://www.ipma.pt/en/riscoincendio/rcm.pt/

If you are in a high risk area, we advise you to formulate a plan by having an emergency kit in case you have to leave home quickly. In such circumstances it is very important to follow the instructions of the emergency services, especially in cases of preventive evacuations. Most people underestimate the intensity of wildfires and deciding to remain at home and defend your property could be a fatal mistake!

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of those living in rural areas of understanding the risks (risk awareness) and following advice of the authorities which we promote.

With Easter approaching there will be many more tourists and with the forecasts pointing to higher temperatures over the Easter weekend there is likely to be many more people using the beaches. We wish to stress the importance therefore of beach safety especially as most beaches at this time of the year do not have lifeguards.

Be particularly aware of dangerous cliffs which are well sign posted and be on the lookout for rip currents – something we have emphasised in our Facebook posts. Please keep an eye on young children in particular and ensure they keep away from the water edge unless accompanied. Tragically over the years there have been several pool deaths in villas so please keep an eye on children and do not leave them alone near pools. Our team at Safe Communities Portugal wish everyone a very Safe and Happy Easter.

News

Portuguese F-16 fighter jets intercepted Russian military aircraft in the Baltic Sea

Lisbon, 04 Apr 2023 (Lusa) – Two Portuguese F-16 fighters identified and escorted a Russian military aircraft IL-76 off the coast of Estonia, on the Baltic Sea, on Sunday, as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, announced this Monday at the Atlantic Alliance.

The Russian aircraft was flying from mainland Russia to the enclave of Kaliningrad over international waters off Estonia’s Baltic Sea coast, NATO explained in a statement posted on its website.

“Since there was no flight plan, neither was the plane in contact with air traffic control nor was it using its transponder, NATO’s Northern Combined Air Operations Center in Uedem, Germany, ordered the F-16s to be launched and confirmed the details of the unknown aircraft”, detailed the Atlantic Alliance.

The Portuguese fighters, which had the first alert output on their second day of the mission, were launched from Šiauliai, in Lithuania.

“After identifying and escorting the Russian plane, the Portuguese fighters safely returned to Šiauliai. This was a routine event,” he added.

For the commander of the Portuguese detachment, Lieutenant Colonel José Dias, quoted in the statement, the operation was a demonstration of “the excellent commitment, dedication and professionalism of all the elements that make up the detachment.”

Portugal leads the 62nd rotation of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. Four F-16s arrived early last week and assumed responsibility for protecting NATO’s regional airspace alongside the F-16s of the Romanian Air Force on March 30, the Atlantic Alliance added.

Since the accession of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2004, NATO allies have taken turns deploying an air policing capability to Šiauliai to protect the territorial integrity of the three Baltic allies in a strong demonstration of Alliance cohesion and solidarity, he added. the organization.

Submarine ‘Arpão’ leaves Tuesday for 120-day mission in the South Atlantic

Lisbon, 03 Apr 2023 (Lusa) – The Navy announced today that the  submarine ‘Arpão’ leaves Tuesday from the Lisbon Naval Base to participate in the ‘Mar Aberto’ initiative in the South Atlantic, until the beginning of August, with a crew of 35 soldiers.

In a statement, the branch details that this will be the first Portuguese submarine to carry out a mission of this type, “also being the first time that a national submarine crosses the Equator” which put “the operational logistical capacity of the Navy to the test.”

The ‘Mar Aberto 23.2’ initiative aims to “develop bilateral and multilateral cooperation actions, and naval presence and diplomacy, namely within the scope of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, Coordinated Maritime Presences in the Gulf of Guinea and the ‘5+5 Defense’ Initiative ‘, with Morocco.”

“During this period, the ‘Arpão’ submarine also contributes to maritime security in an area of ​​operations located in the South Atlantic Ocean, between the coast of Brazil and the West African coast,” said the Navy.

For 120 days, the submarine will visit two continents and five countries: Cape Verde, Brazil, South Africa, Angola and Morocco, “traveling more than 13,000 miles, totaling around 2,500 hours of navigation.”

The garrison will be commanded by the frigate captain Taveira Pinto.

“The ‘Arpão’ mission will contribute to the strengthening of military and diplomatic cooperation relations between Portugal and each of the countries visited, with special focus on the celebrations of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities, which this year takes place in Africa do Sul and will be attended by His Excellency the President of the Republic,” reads the statement.

The Navy also points out that the “operational characteristics of the submarine give it the capacity to carry out discreet patrols at any time of the year and in any place, thus guaranteeing that the waters under national sovereignty or jurisdiction, or any other where its presence is required, may have an extra guarantee of navigation safety”.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 5th April 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you and with the weather warming up we have been posting a lot of information regarding keeping safe and secure throughout the Spring and into summer with regards to swimming in the Ocean, walking along the coastal cliffs as well as fire management. There is a new warning of extreme fire risk across some areas of Portugal over the next few days and the Algarve is one of these so please be aware of the requirements with regards to clearing land and burning rubbish.

Algarve launches the 2nd Phase of Support for Projects to promote Water Management.

With the hot weather comes the added issue regarding water and its conservation. As part of the Recovery and Resilience Program ( PRR ), the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL) has just launched the 2nd notice, worth seven million euros, to support projects that promote the efficient management of water supply systems from the Algarve.

Within the scope of this notice, applications aimed at sectoring networks, monitoring and controlling real water losses are eligible for better management in the distribution systems in downtown Algarve.

The main beneficiaries of the initiative are the management entities of the water supply networks in Baixa, that is, the municipalities and their associations, as well as the business sector and municipal concessionaires. The support given to applications will be non-refundable, a 100% non-refundable subsidy financed through the Next Generation EU fund. On the purpose of launching this 2nd notice, last Friday AMAL met with mayors and municipal technicians linked to this area to present the conditions of access and formalisation of candidacies.

At the moment, the status of what is already being carried out within the scope of the 1st phase of applications that took place in September 2021, through which 14 million euros are being applied for the execution of 54 works of requalification of networks and implementation of measurement and control zones. Investment in pressure reduction is also being supported.

The execution of the investment, associated with water efficiency in the Algarve, framed in the PRR and which involves other measures in addition to the one managed by AMAL, is coordinated by the Portuguese Environment Agency, through the Administration of the Hydrographic Region of the Algarve.

AMN Advises Adoption of Safety Behaviours during Easter Week

The weather forecast points to a week of good weather and above-average temperatures, so the National Maritime Authority advises the population to adopt safety behaviours when going to the beach or coastal areas, avoiding “unnecessarily exposing themselves to risk” .

“It is important to bear in mind that the sea, at this time of year, is a winter sea and presents a high risk due to the effects of maritime agitation, also presenting its morphology altered by the effect of the strong swell that normally occurs in this period of the year. year, creating zones of bottoms, steep slopes, eddies and waterholes on the beaches that are not signposted at this time of year”, explains the National Maritime Authority in a statement.

The overwhelming majority of Portuguese beaches are not supervised at this time of year, that is, they do not have the bathing safety device. As such, the “response to a rescue situation may take time, so the population should behave appropriately and responsibly, not putting themselves in risky situations”, continues the note. In view of the possible influx near the beaches , the National Maritime Authority will reinforce, from the 6th of April, surveillance and inspection in some of the bathing areas, with the aim of raising awareness among the population to avoid risky behaviour.

Thus, the National Maritime Authority recommends:

– Permanently monitor children and do not allow them to leave, always keeping them close to an adult;

– Avoid risky behaviour by not going near water or walking on wet sand. Do not turn your back on the sea and always maintain a safe distance from the waterline to avoid being surprised by a wave;

– If you witness a dangerous situation in the water, do not go in and call 112 for help.

Pleasure Boat Crew Rescued in the Guadiana

The crew of the Vila Real de Santo António Lifeguard Station helped, on the afternoon of Sunday, April 1st, two crew members of a pleasure boat that had an engine failure on the Guadiana River, about three nautical miles away ( 5.5 kilometres) south of Alcoutim, communicated the National Maritime Authority .

Following an alert received at 5:06 pm by the crew of the pleasure craft, “reporting the engine failure”, the crew of the Vila Real de Santo António Lifeguard Station were sent to the site.

Upon arrival at the site, they found that the two crew members were “physically well” and that they “tried to anchor”, in order to avoid running aground, but due to the strength of the current it was not possible to hold the vessel. The crew of the Salva-vidas Station towed the vessel, for reasons of navigation safety, to the Guadiana Marina, in Vila Real de Santo António. 

ASAE Operation Arrests Six People for Illegal gambling

A 23-year-old man was arrested in Portimão for the crime of drug trafficking, announced the Public Security Police ( PSP ). The arrest was made in flagrante delicto by Faro ‘s PSP District Command , during a patrolling action.

The suspect was approached along with other individuals, “due to strong evidence of drug trafficking and consumption,” according to the statement. When approached, the suspect behaved hostilely and fled, dropping a knife and a bag of drugs.

The police began a chase on foot, which led the suspect to head to the PSP police station in Portimão, “on the verge of being caught”.

During the investigations, 210 doses of hashish, a knife, brass knuckles and 35 euros were seized. The detainee will appear before a judicial authority for the application of coercive measures.

22 fishing traps seized in Ribeira do Almargem

The Local Command of the Maritime Police of Tavira seized on Wednesday, March 29, 22 fishing traps during an inspection action in the Ria Formosa , announced the National Maritime Authority.

This action took place in Ribeira do Almargem, less than 900 metres from the coast, where there was a web made up of 22 fishing traps, known as “covos”, whose use is prohibited in that location.

The Maritime Police seized the fishing gear and prepared the respective report. Four members of the Tavira Maritime Police Local Command participated in this action, supported by a vessel and two vehicles.

16-year-old boy arrested for possession of a prohibited weapon in Quarteira

A 16-year-old youth was detained red-handed by the National Republican Guard (GNR) on March 31, in Quarteira , for possession of a prohibited weapon, drug trafficking and driving without a licence, the security force announced.

The arrest was made by the Territorial Command of Faro, through the Territorial Sub-detachment of Quarteira, during a road inspection and prevention and fight against juvenile crime.

The GNR soldiers inspected the young man driving a moped, in addition to a personal search, where a narcotic product and a weapon were found. After a house search of the suspect’s residence, an automatic opening knife, 10 doses of hashish, 50 euros in cash, a SIM card, a mobile phone, a precision scale and 20 airtight bags were also seized.

The detainee was made an arguido and the facts were communicated to the Judicial Court of Loulé. This action had the participation of the Faro Intervention Detachment .

Enjoy the Easter break Until the next time.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 29th March 2023

Violent and serious crime increases in the Azores in 2022 

Annual Homeland Security Report reports 12 more violent and serious crimes last year. Azores were the only region to lower overall crime.

Violent and serious crime increased in the Azores in 2022, close to 4% compared to 2021, while general crime decreased by 2.6%, being the only region in the country where such a situation occurred.

According to a note on the Government Portal, the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI), released yesterday by the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI), in the Azores there were 232 violent and serious crimes last year, 12 more than in 2021, but with a decrease in crimes of offense to physical integrity, extortion and theft on public roads. At national level, there was a 14.4% increase in violent and serious crimes.

Regarding general crime, while at national level there was an increase of around 14.1%, in the Region there was a drop of 2.6% in 2022, from 9,998 crimes registered in 2021 to 9,738 crimes last year. According to the note from the regional executive, “the result of the reduction of crimes such as defamation, slander and injury, computer fraud, threats and coercion, vehicle theft and driving without a legal license”.

In a press conference after the meeting, the secretary general of the Internal Security System (SSI), Paulo Vizeu Pinheiro, explained that, to analyse the crime registered by the security forces and services in 2022, it is “necessary to have a comparison with 2019”, since 2020 and 2021 were influenced by restrictive measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the secretary general of the SSI, the year 2022 saw an increase in general crime of around 14.1%, with 42,451 more reports registered compared to 2021, while compared to 2019 there was an increase of 2.5 %.

Regarding violent and serious crime, last year there was an increase of 14.4% compared to 2021 but compared to 2019 there was a decrease of 7.8%.

“In comparative post- and pre-pandemic terms, the trend towards serious and violent crimes is still on a downward curve”, said Paulo Vizeu Pinheiro, considering that “it is important to maintain levels of vigilance and avoid complacency”.

Restoration in the Azores hopes to recover pre-pandemic levels at Easter. 

The restoration in the Azores admitted to recovering the levels prior to the covid-19 pandemic, revealing that in the first three months of the year a “much more reduced” seasonality was notorious and the expectations for Easter “are also very good”.

“The prospects are good; the accommodation is at a good occupancy rate. And everything indicates that catering and the like will also be in greater demand. We believe in matching the pre-pandemic numbers of 2019”, said the president of the Azorean delegation of Portuguese Hotel, Restaurant and Similar Association (AHRESP).

Cláudia Chaves claims that in the first quarter of the year, “a much-reduced seasonality” was noted with “tourists of practically all nationalities”.

“We have had a lot of movement of people and, at Easter, an increase in visitors and also residents in the Azores is expected”, said the president of the delegation in the Azores of the Associação da Hotelaria, Restauração e Similares de Portugal.

According to the businesswoman, “some movement” of tourists of “various nationalities from Europe” and Canada is beginning to be noticeable.

“This is a concern that our associates have transmitted to us”, maintained Cláudia Chaves, referring that the problem is more serious in the summer.

According to the person in charge, there is a “great difficulty in having people available in the catering and similar areas”.

“We have already noticed a large tourist flow and the concern is how will it be in the summer?”, he questioned, emphasizing that “the lack of manpower” has been “the great Achilles heel” of the sector.

Cláudia Chaves insisted that the solution could involve the use of “foreign labour, which could be an added value” to fill the lack of workers during the high season.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 29th March 2023

Good morning – The headlines yesterday was the knife attack at the Islamic centre in Lisbon, by a man apparently an Afghan national which left two Portuguese women, Mariana Jadaugy, 24, and Farana Sadrudin, age 49 both who worked at the centre dead and a third person, a teacher ,seriously injured. PSP arrived at the scene within one minute and immobilised the assailant by shooting him the leg, whereupon he was taken to hospital. The incident is being investigated by the Judicial Police Counterterrorism unit. Only an investigation will determine whether this was an act of terrorism and the motivation behind this. We have placed an article concerning the two victims in this report today

The prime minister addressed condolences to the families of the victims, noted the prompt intervention of the PSP and clarified that, so far, “everything indicates that it was an isolated act”, but admits that it is premature to draw conclusions and asks that the conclusions are reached by the authorities. This is as far we are aware unprecedented in Portugal.

Yesterday we reported on a major fire in the Castellón forest Valencia Region which has devastated 4,300 hectares and a perimeter of approximately 50 square kilometre since last Thursday and has forced the evacuation of 1,600 people. This is the first major fire of the year in Spain, and it is not yet clear what could have caused it. According to the Spanish State Meteorological Agency, in the Valencian Community there has been an “average rainfall deficit” of 35% since October 1, 2022, with the last months being classified as “very dry”. In 2022, 493 fires destroyed a record 307,000 hectares of land in Spain.

Temperatures in the area are in the region of 30C, low humidity and difficult terrain, with much on the attack on the fire being undertaken by around 20 aircraft/helicopters – sounds familiar?

Last year during the heatwave this was often the scenario in Portugal, and as a result some of the fires in particular the Serra da Estrela fire continued for several days. When weather conditions become extreme with extremely dry vegetation resulting from drought, fires fanned by high winds can burn with great intensity. This is when they become very dangerous. The technical definition is “that a fire reaching 2000 GJ of released energy (characteristic energy of a severe and difficult to fight fire) Source IPMA.

As you may have seen in addition to the fire risk map we now publish each day the Fire Hazard Index map. This comprises six indices that quantify the effects of fuel moisture and wind on fire behaviour, and indicates the potential intensity and spread of rural fires. It is important to understand this as the more intense a fire becomes the greater the likely spread and the more difficult it becomes to bring the fire under control. In fact at a certain point the use of water from fire hoses, for example, has little effect as it evaporates before reach the flames. It is in these situations that preventive evacuations become necessary well before fires reach populated areas.

We urge everyone living in rural areas particular high risk areas link here: to follow the forecasts DAILY in order to be aware when the risk is very high as it is today in the Algarve or extreme.  Please be aware that at very high risk and above, Authorization is required to burn cut and piled waste, risk levels below this simply require prior registration.

On this theme at the Mediterranean Garden Fair in Silves last weekend we conducted a survey testing people’s awareness of rural fire awareness and preparedness, as well as actions to take in an earthquake or tsunami. The results showed that most key messages are getting through but very few were aware of the difference between “registration” and “authorization” as set out above. Generally speaking it is not wise to undertake burns when the risk is very high and people are discouraged from doing so – hence specific authorisation is required and only given after full consideration of the application and weather conditions.

In the same survey less than half were aware of the deadline for land cleaning which is 30th April 2023.

When it came to tsunami respondents fared better, but not everyone was aware that the warning of an approaching tsunami is the sudden tide.

News

Suspect in attack at Ismaili Centre is of Afghan nationality and victims are Portuguese

Lisbon, 28 March 2023 (Lusa) – The presumed perpetrator of the attack today at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon is of Afghan nationality, while the two women killed by the alleged suspect are of Portuguese nationality, a police source told Lusa.

The victims, in their 20s and 40s, were inside the Ismaili Centre, on Avenida Lusíada, when a man entered the space with a bladed weapon.

In a statement, the PSP reported that the attack took place at 11:00 am and that it was carried out by “a man armed with a large knife”, with the PSP shooting at the suspect, who is at the Hospital de San Jose, Lisbon.

According to a communiqué from the national directorate of the PSP, the attack “with a bladed weapon” on the Ismaili center was reported to the police at 10:57 am, with the first agents who responded to the occurrence arriving at the scene a minute later.

“The police came across a man armed with a large knife. Orders were given to the attacker to cease the attack, which he disobeyed, advancing towards the policemen, with the knife in his hand”, revealed the PSP, adding that, in the face of this “serious threat”, the agents shot at the attacker, “hitting and neutralizing the aggressor”.

In a statement sent to Lusa, the president of the National Council of the Ismaili Muslim Community, Rahim Firozali, revealed that the attack took place when classes and other activities were taking place at the Ismaili Centre, but said he did not know the motivations of the man who entered the center’s premises armed with a sharp object.

At the moment, investigations by the Judiciary Police are ongoing.

The aggressor was transported to Hospital de São José (Lisbon), where he is being treated for injuries caused by the intervention of the PSP.

A source from the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) contacted by Lusa said that the alert was given at 10:53 am: “There are two dead on record and two seriously injured, one of whom was taken to the Hospital de São José and the other, by own means, to the Hospital of Santa Maria.”

In turn, a source from Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte confirmed that Hospital de Santa Maria received a man who arrived at the unit by his own means. The victim is “in his 30s” and has “slight injuries to his chest” after being stabbed.

In the note released at the end of the morning, the PSP appealed to the serenity and tranquillity of citizens, noting that “the necessary staff were mobilized for the implementation of adequate and urgent security measures”. 

Mariana and Farana – Here are the victims of the attack on the Ismaili Centre

Mariana Jadaugy, 24, and Farana Sadrudin, 49, were identified as the two fatalities in Tuesday’s attack on the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon. The Portuguese women were stabbed by the Afghan man, who entered the room where the English class was taking place, armed with a large knife.

The information is advanced by CNN Portugal, which revealed that Farana was the niece of the diplomatic representative of the Ismaili Imamat in Portugal, Nazim Ahmad, and was also a representative of the Ismaili community in Madrid, in addition to having a degree in Engineering from the Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Setúbal. In addition, she was a member of the Council for Subsidies and Review and Member of the Council for Conciliation and Arbitration for Portugal in the Ismaili Community, and had worked since December 2021 at the FOCUS-Assistance Humanitarian Foundation, where she managed the process of organic integration of refugees.

In turn, Mariana had a degree in Political Sciences and International Relations from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and a master’s degree in the same area, held at the Higher Institute of Economics and Management of the University of Lisbon. The young woman worked as a volunteer at ReFood for a year, in addition to her work at FOCUS.

Both ended up dying on the spot. The attack also injured another teacher, who is in serious condition at Hospital de Santa Maria, in Lisbon. The suspect, who was arrested and shot in the lower limbs by the Public Security Police, was transported to the São José Hospital, where he underwent surgery.P

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 29 March 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all and if you were able to call and say hello to us at the Mediterranean Garden Fair in Silves at the weekend, thank you for stopping by. The show was a busy event for us and as well as us being able to give out information regarding safety and security we also had with us two members of the GNR who were also on hand to offer advice on fire safety and forestry concerns. With the fire season coming closer it is imperative that we are all aware of what to do in case a fire is close by. Also the Land clearing deadline is fast approaching and if you live in a rural area it is something we all must adhere to and be aware of the issues and solutions required. We will continue to post information on this subject in our newsletters and on our Facebook page.

Now let’s look at some of the other stories that have been happening across the Algarve in the past week.

Man Arrested In Albufeira for Attempted Robbery

Last Friday, the GNR arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of having tried to rob a house and illegally possessing a weapon, in Albufeira , said the security force today.

According to a statement, the suspect fled after being “surprised by the owner”, and the GNR military then located the man who was arrested in possession of a pistol and other objects. The detainee was made an arguido and the facts communicated to the Judicial Court of Albufeira, concludes the note.

National Marine Authority speak of Success in Drug Seizure

The change in tactics in the fight against drug trafficking by sea on the Portuguese south coast has been a “success” and will continue with the various means already engaged, said the spokesman for the National Maritime Authority (AMN).

“There was, in fact, a change of tactics and the results are in sight. We were able to seize many more vessels, much more narcotic material and identify presumed elements linked to this drug trade. Therefore, this change in tactics has been a success”, said Commander José Sousa Luís, spokesman for the Portuguese Navy and AMN.

The official was speaking during a press conference at Faro ‘s commercial pier, convened following an operation carried out at dawn on Tuesday by the AMN, Navy and Portuguese Air Force, in collaboration with the Judiciary Police (PJ), which resulted in the seizure over two and a half tons of hashish and the arrest of three men. Although three vessels were detected, sailing in international waters, by an Air Force aircraft that monitored that area, two of them “fled to Spanish waters and an alert was given to the authorities” of the neighboring country, and it was only possible to apprehend one of the vessels.

After, in just two and a half months, “practically all the values” of the amount of drugs seized, of elements identified or detected in alleged trafficking and also of seizures of high-speed boats, registered throughout the year 2022, were beaten , with greater predominance on the south coast of Portugal, Commander José Sousa Luís pointed out three factors that explain the high numbers in the fight against drug trafficking by sea.

“It could possibly be due to an increase in the flow of drug trafficking to Portugal, but there was also a reinforcement of means by the Navy and the National Maritime Authority and also changes in our tactics”, he stressed.

Without wanting to specify details about the strategy used, under penalty of “giving information to the opponent”, the official guaranteed that this fight against drug trafficking will continue, with the commitment of various means, including those used in Tuesday’s operation : an Air Force aircraft, two Navy fast inspection boats, a Marine fast assault boat, a Maritime Police fast assault boat and a Navy helicopter.

More than 20 tons of drugs were seized this year by the National Maritime Authority, a number higher than the total for 2022, with 31 people having already been detained on suspicion of trafficking, which now rises to 34, when in 2022 they were detained or identified on suspicion of drug trafficking six people.

Until Friday last week, 20.20 tons of drugs had been seized, thus surpassing, in less than three months, the total number of drugs seized by the Maritime Police and the Navy throughout 2022, the year in which 16 were seized. 52 tons of drugs, especially hashish and cocaine.

The drug seized since the beginning of this year exceeds the previous year’s total by almost four tons and represents four times more than the amount of narcotics seized in 2021, when only 5.14 tons were seized.

Also present at the press conference, the director of the Faro PJ underlined that there are a series of hypotheses under investigation regarding the more than three dozen people already detained and the networks that operate on the Portuguese coast, but he did not clarify whether there are several networks, one only network, or “several networks that use the same carriers”.

Explaining that hashish has always been trafficked from the Moroccan coast to Portugal, namely to the Algarve, Fernando Jordão stressed that this type of crime was carried out “under different conditions”.

“If a few years ago we were talking about combat closer to the coast, because the vessels that transported [the drug] were different, today we have these realities. A different reality, which brings us more difficulties in terms of detecting the networks, but which makes detecting the drug much easier”, fulfilling the objective of “removing drugs from the market”, he stressed.

The drug trafficking suspects arrested in connection with these operations are all still in preventive detention, a coercive measure that has to be reviewed every three months.

Colonel Bernardo da Costa, spokesman for the Air Force, considered “fundamental” the articulation “between human capacity and technological capacity” displayed by the Portuguese authorities, with operations that have allowed “to fine-tune procedures and adjust all communication channels”, but which often result from normal maritime patrol missions.

“This co operation between the Air Force, Navy, AMN and PJ is fundamental, because with this we can carry out the detection at 300 miles – we have the capacity to do so – but if we do not have the means, and we are not able to transmit the information quickly, our detection is not consequential”, he concluded.

Loule Council Helps Raise Awareness of Forest Fires

The Municipal Civil Protection Service, in collaboration with the Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA) of the GNR of Loulé, carried out, in the period between February 16th and March 15th, awareness-raising actions within the scope of the defence of the forest against fires.

These activities took place in the commercial spaces of parishes in the interior and in the monthly markets of Azinhal, Ameixial, Alte, Benafim and Salir, through the distribution of leaflets and posters with all the information on the subject.

“It has been the prerogative of the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Loulé to invest in a culture of security and civil protection, promoting actions aimed at specific segments of the population on probable risks and scenarios likely to happen” The Statement read, Thus, with these awareness actions, the main aim was to “inform the population of the obligation to proceed with the cleaning of a fuel management strip 50 metres wide, measured from the exterior masonry of the building and 100 metres in the agglomerations populations”. Also, self-protection procedures in case of fire and the importance of communicating fires to the Loulé Municipal Line 24, through the number 808 289 112, were issues addressed.

The Statement went on to say- “An informed community is a prepared community, and the best way for each one to be able to intervene is to be aware of the risks that exist in their environment, as well as the self-protection procedures that must be adopted, thus being able to minimise the damages resulting from an exceptional situation”.

Two High Speed Boats Intercepted in Drugs Haul

The Portuguese authorities seized two high-speed boats on Thursday and identified seven individuals, on suspicion of drug trafficking, in an operation in international waters south of Portugal. “The National Maritime Authority, the Portuguese Navy and the Portuguese Air Force, carried out a joint operation yesterday afternoon [Thursday] in international waters south of Portugal, which resulted in the seizure of two high-speed vessels and the identification of seven individuals, five of Moroccan nationality and two of Spanish nationality”, say the authorities in a statement.

According to the note, a Portuguese Air Force aircraft first detected two suspicious vessels, and then found that they did not have the respective identification (name and flag).

These steps led to the seizure of the boats, which contained 58 empty cans to store fuel, and the transport of their crew to the port closest to the place where the operation took place, for identification.

The statement reports that the approach to the vessels was carried out by two vessels, also at high speed, one from the Maritime Police, and another from the Portuguese Navy, operated by Marines. “As a precautionary measure, the seven individuals were transported to Faro for further identification, as well as the vessels were seized, and the Public Ministry was contacted for further steps” concludes the note.

According to information sent to Lusa, until last week, 20.20 tons of narcotics had been seized since the beginning of the year, surpassing, in less than three months, the total number of drugs seized by the Maritime Police and the Navy throughout 2022, year in which 16.52 tons of drugs were seized, mainly hashish and cocaine.

The drug seized in the first months of this year exceeds the total of the previous year by almost four tons and represents four times more than the amount of narcotics seized in 2021, when only 5.14 tons were seized.

The fight against drug trafficking has also been visible in the seizure of high-speed boats, with the National Maritime Authority advancing that 13 speedboats have already been seized in the first months of 2023, almost as many as the 15 that the Maritime Police (in collaboration with the Navy) seized during 2022.

Good news on the Crime front- Until the next time stay safe.

 

Portugal Situation and Security Report Wednesday 22nd March 2023

Although in many areas of the mainland it has been a fairly wet winter, with most reservoirs near full, with the exception of the Algarve, the weather ahead as far as the supply of water is not so optimistic.

According to a report released on Monday by the European Commission, because of an “exceptionally dry and warm winter, soil moisture and river flow already show significant anomalies” in countries such as France, Spain and Italy. Portugal was wetter but is also mentioned in the report.

The European Commission warned today of the possibility of an even drier summer than in previous years in Mediterranean countries and that “precipitation in the coming weeks will be crucial”.

The most negative and also most likely prediction is that “Europe and the Mediterranean region could experience an extreme summer this year, similar to 2022.” The Commission also warned that “most countries in the south and west of the European Union”, including Portugal, “are affected by an incipient drought where concerns about water supply, agriculture and energy production are growing.

An impact arising from this is the high risk of rural fires. Last year over 80% of these were in the north, owing to the heatwave in June/July which greatly affected the north and central regions. Although as mention the water in reservoirs is higher than at this time last year, it is important to look ahead and conserve water where we can. One way is to reduce watering in the garden by using plants that require far less water, such as succulents and cacti. If you are attending the Mediterranean Spring Gardening Fair in Silves this weekend there will be a workshop on this subject. Entrance to the fair is free. The second way is to ensure the cleaning of land which needs to be completed by 30th April. Please see the news article following this introduction.

Safe Communities Portugal will be at the fair as usual and on this occasion we will be joined by the GNR SEPNA unit from Silves. Our stand no 32 will focus will be on land cleaning, fire safe gardens, safe wells, disaster risk awareness, rural fire prevention and protection, crime prevention, dealing weather extremes and more. The Nature and Environmental Protection Service (SEPNA), is constituted as an environmental police, competent to monitor, supervise, report and investigate all violations of legislation aimed at protecting nature, the environment and natural heritage, throughout the national territory. They will be able to answer your questions on many different topics.

Remember to Mark Your Calendars for This Weekend Time Change…Spring Forward.

The country will advance the clock by one hour in the early hours of this Sunday. At 1 a.m. on March 26, in mainland Portugal and in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, the clock should be brought forward to 2 a.m., starting daylight saving time. In the Azores, the change will be made at 12 a.m., when the clocks should change to 1 a.m.

Portugal’s Tax Authority (AT) warned, this Monday 20th March, of the circulation of a fraudulent message, through which taxpayers are asked to access a link to send their income tax return, and are then sent to malicious pages. “AT is aware that some taxpayers are receiving e-mails, supposedly coming from AT, referring to a possible missing declaration of income, in which they are asked to click on a ‘link'”, he indicated, in a statement.

The Tax Authorities stressed that these messages are false and therefore should be ignored. There are many such false emails around at present particularly the tax authority, CTT and EDP. Also be cautious if they are asking you to click on a link in order to pay money. Almost certainly these are phishing attacks – so simply delete. If you have however you have paid a fraudster then this should be reported to police.

News

Government warns that fire risk increased by about 40% compared to 2022

Leiria, 21 Mar 2023 (Lusa) – The risk of fire in Portugal today is about 40% higher compared to 2022, said the Minister of Internal Administration, after a meeting with the GNR, in Monte Redondo, in the municipality of Leiria.

“Today we were able to hear from the GNR, which has a database that allows comparing various indicators, that in light of the indicators known today, the risk increases by about 40% compared to 2022 said José Luís Carneiro.

The Minister of Internal Administration was at the GNR post in Monte Redondo, where he received briefings from the military on the state of the national territory at the time when the Safe Forest Campaign is taking place, which aims to identify the owners of land that need cleaning, to prevent rural fires.

José Luís Carneiro then saw the work of the GNR in identifying land in default, having tried out the system used by the military.

“The GNR is currently on the ground across the country to raise awareness among local authorities and owners of the need to carry out the cleaning provided for in the law regarding the safety of buildings”, namely, “all areas surrounding the dwellings that must be subject to cleaning,” he said.

The assistant sergeant of the Emergency Protection and Relief Unit (UEPS), Rui Teixeira, explained that on the platform that the GNR has, it is possible to verify the critical places “that give incidence of rural fires from 2020 until now”.

“We are more severely affected in the north of the country – Viana do Castelo and inland Porto. We have more ignitions in Montalegre and Vila Real, which is already historic at this stage of the year”, he specified.

“It would be fundamental for the country to guarantee the resilience of population centers through the execution of the secondary network, since 85% of the occurrences, out of 10,958 in 2022, occurred within 500 meters of infrastructure, whether occupied by people or a business environment”, explained the military.

The minister underlined, therefore, the importance of investing in prevention and raising everyone’s awareness of the cleanliness of the grounds.

“In the summer, when we are faced with fires, we all have the feeling that resources are always limited for the country’s needs as a whole. The GNR went ahead with the awareness campaign in February across the country, a very valuable job, which has allowed for greater knowledge and greater ability to foresee risks. This is a collective duty” he insisted.

José Luís Carneiro recalled that, “in 2022, the European Union had more than 60% of rural and forest fires”.

The official explained: “in 2022 we had 47C degrees, humidity below 10% and winds above 60 kilometres per hour, which means that the risk of fire has increased exponentially”.

“This is everyone’s effort. From the central administration, from the Government, from the municipalities, from the owners and from each one of us. It is for this purpose and for this awareness that I am meeting with the GNR today. It is important that everyone fulfill their mission. It is not enough, when we are faced with fires, to ask the Minister of Internal Administration for an account. It is very important that everyone contributes to a safer country”, he reinforced.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 22nd March 2023

by Christopher Noble

Car on runway forces SATA plane to interrupt take-off. 

The take-off of the SATA Air Açores flight that was flying between Terceira Island and Ponta Delgada on Tuesday at the end of the day, had to be aborted because a vehicle crossed the runway during the procedure.

The report was made by passengers on flight SP 407, which departed from Lajes airport at 6:47 pm on Tuesday, explaining that moments after the plane – a Dash 400 – had started taking off, it stopped abruptly, with the aircraft’s pilot justifying this situation with the fact that a vehicle crossed the airport runway.

A source from the Azorean airline confirmed that the commander of the flight operated by SATA Air Açores, on March 14th, which connected Terceira Island (Lajes) to São Miguel Island (Ponta Delgada), was requested to interrupt the take-off.

According to SATA, “it was an order from the control tower, taking into account that conditions were not met to follow the usual procedure”. It says that “the interruption came in the initial phase of the run, which did not constitute any danger for passengers or crew”.

The airline also explains that, “when situations of this nature occur, they originate a detailed report, and it is not up to the airline to pronounce on the matter under analysis”.

Air Force transports emergency baby from Faial to the Continent 

The Air Force announced that it had transported a five-hour-old new-born from Faial to the mainland, on a flight under extremely adverse weather conditions, during the early hours of Wednesday.

The crew of Squadron 502 – “Elefantes” was activated shortly after the birth of the baby, to carry out the transport from the island of Faial, to the mainland, so that it would receive essential hospital care for survival.

Having taken off from Air Base No. 4, on Terceira Island, the C-295M plane was still in Faial waiting for the baby to be stabilized, guaranteeing the necessary conditions for the trip.

On the flight to that island, the atmospheric conditions were not the most suitable, with winds of 55 km/h. These conditions were expected to be more aggressive on the trip to the Continent, calling into question the feasibility of the flight.

However, taking into account the nature of the mission, the crew of the C-295M plane took off from that Azorean Island at 03:30 in the morning towards Lisbon. Ahead they faced a storm, with winds of around 150km/h, associated ice conditions and turbulence.

On board, a civil health team provided all the necessary care for the new-born baby. After a 4-hour flight, the C-295M plane landed in Portela at 7:30 am, where an ambulance was waiting for the baby to take him to a hospital.