Archives: Situation Reports

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 22^nd February 2023

Good Morning – For those of you who visited the carnivals, either on Sunday or yesterday I hope you had an enjoyable time, with not too much dust around.

On Monday the Directorate-General for Health issued a health warning concerning poor air quality. with an increase in concentrations of inhalable particles of natural origin in the air affecting, namely, the regions of Alentejo, Algarve and the interior of the Centre Region. Thus, and as long as this phenomenon continues, DGS advised that the general population should limit outdoor physical activity and exposure to risk factors such as tobacco smoke and contact with irritating products with special precautions for children and those who are vulnerable.

Thankfully, at least on Tuesday afternoon the main effects of the Sahara dust which has been prominent over the last week were beginning to disperse.

On Monday a maritime-tourist vessel, with 36 people on board, including four children, sank following an entry of water on board while sailing about 600 meters from the coast, south of the Alfanzina Lighthouse, in the municipality of Lagoon. Thankfully resulting from a quick response by members of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Portimão and the Lifeguard Station of Ferragudo as well as the assistance of several maritime-tourist vessels in the area everyone on board were rescued. Excellent work by the emergency services.

There was plenty of speculation on social media as to the cause of the incident, such as rough seas for example, but this will only be determined after an investigation, which will be undertaken as is the case for all maritime accidents of this nature. The sinking of a pleasure boat is however exceptionally unusual.

As we are coming towards the end of February, for those living in rural areas it is the time to start preparing for rural fires, something many of us in rural areas have to live with. Although as of today the number of fires so far this year is far lower than last year, we have a long way to go and now is the start preparation work to reduce their impact. We will be providing advice on this topic over the coming weeks, through our Facebook pages, our newsletter, KissFm radio and in the media.

Although this applies to all rural areas there are some at higher risk and for last year they can be found here. This list is updated by the ICNF annually and a new list is expected to be published soon. However, it is likely to be similar to last year with around one thousand parishes listed.

At this time of the year the most important action is to ensure your property around your property is cleaned to 50 metres from the building itself not from the perimeter wall/fence. This does not mean removing everything in-sight, but simply reducing vegetation to reduce the risk of a fire in the area reaching your home. Most importantly is to ensure that roof guttering’s are clear of leaves and that there are no overhanging trees! If so then now is the time to take action to reduce the risk.

It is important that neighbouring land, if within 50 metres of your house is also cleaned, so now is the time to have a friendly chat with your neighbour. In March checks will be undertaken by the GNR particularly in high risk areas so it is best to be prepared rather than leave to the last minute.

Also especially for those of you living in high risk areas, including areas previously affected by rural fires to have an action plan in place in the event of a fire, ensure you have an emergency kit in a handy place and the emergency contact list should you need to contact 112 in an emergency is prominently displayed. It can be downloaded here:

If you are letting a property, then sure that your clients are aware of these actions and if your area is part of the Safe Village – Safe People program they are aware of escape routes and assembly points in the event of a fire.

Monitoring weather conditions is vitally important as well as understanding the risk factors that dictate the potential intensity of fires. Having attended a meeting of an international gathering of the FirEUrisk program (which Safe Communities is a member of) a few days ago it was disturbing to seeing some the effects of fires during the extreme heatwave several European countries, including Portugal, experience last year. It is essential in such conditions fires are dealt with within the earliest stages as once they reach a certain intensity, conventional firefighting by using water hoses has little or no impact, as water evaporates before reaching the target – a sobering thought!

We will be creating more awareness on these topics in due course.

Our team wishes you a safe week ahead.

News

Important announcement for those visiting Spain

New system of alerting people in case of emergencies and catastrophes starts midnight tonight 21^st February 2023

An issue we have been concerned about for some time is if you are travelling through Spain or a visitor to that country how would you be informed if there is a major emergency or catastrophe in the area where you are or planning to visit.

It is a matter which we have taken up directly with Spanish Mistry of Interior recently through a forum which we attend concerning rural fires.

Anyway we were informed today of the development effective midnight tonight which has been in the planning and pilot stages for some time.

The SPANISH SYSTEM

‘112 reverse’: your mobile will notify you in case of emergency or catastrophe

The system of warnings to the population in case of emergencies classified as ‘112 reverse’, will be operational from February 22 throughout the national territory.

The ES-Alert alert system , which allows general and immediate alert messages to be sent to mobile phones located in an area affected by an emergency or catastrophe, will enter service throughout Spain starting at midnight on Tuesday, February 21 (00:00 this Wednesday), for management from all the Emergency Centers of the autonomous communities and of Ceuta and Melilla.

WHAT IS ‘112 REVERSE’?

This system, integrated into the National Alert Network, is managed by the Ministry of the Interior through the National Emergency Monitoring and Coordination Centre (CENEM) of the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies.

“The activation of this procedure will allow a much faster and more effective response to particularly serious situations that may have a direct impact on the population,” say sources from the Ministry of the Interior.

Alerts will be sent automatically to all mobile phones in the affected area, a process known as ‘reverse 112’.

It is available anywhere in Spain with mobile phone coverage, be it 2G (GSM), 3G (UMTS), 4G (LTE) or 5G.

All state, regional or local public administrations that can contribute to the detection, monitoring and forecasting of threats of imminent danger to people and goods, will notify the situation to CENEM so that this body can generate a generalized and immediate alert in the area of risk.

The warning will make it easier for the population to protect themselves against phenomena such as floods, fires, adverse meteorological phenomena, volcanic or chemical accidents, among other emergencies.

COMMENT

It states ALL phone users so should include travellers as does SMS messages from the ANEPC in Portugal

Frontex agency starts training for future agents in Portugal

Lisbon, 21 Feb 2023 (Lusa) – Portugal will host starting yesterday, a training course by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) aimed at agents from several countries who will join the permanent staff of Frontex.

In a statement, the National Maritime Authority (AMN) refers that the Frontex agency, in conjunction with the AMN and with the support of the Portuguese Navy, today started the training program of the “Basic Training Program for the European Standing Corps Category 1” aimed at agents who will form part of the permanent staff of that European Union border control agency.

AMN mentions that the course will be taught at the Maritime Authority School, until November 19 of this year, by a team of trainers from Frontex and will have the participation of 50 students of different nationalities from the Schengen Area, including Portuguese students.

The AMN also indicates that, for the second consecutive year, Portugal is the country chosen to provide this training, “a proof of trust and recognition by the European authorities of Frontex and will constitute a significant challenge for the AMN and for the Navy, which will have the support of other national external entities”.

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 15^th February 2023

Good morning – On Monday night a total of 144 operatives from Portugal under the coordination of the ANEPC departed for Chile to assist the authorities there battling an outbreak of at least 231 forest fires which have consumed 270,000 hectares of land, have killed 26 people so far in south-central Chile and destroyed 1,100 homes and prompted the declaration of a state of emergency in three regions.

Just a few days earlier a force of 52 specialists in rescue operations and six dogs from Portugal comprising:  the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), the Emergency, Protection and Rescue Unit (UEPS) of the Republican National Guard, the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment and the National Institute of Medical Emergency, departed for Turkey to help in the search for victims, some still being found alive under the rubble. Within 36 hours of arriving they had already saved a 10 year old child.

The following words by the President of the ANEPC Duarte da Costa to me serve as an inspiration and the importance of international assistance and co-operation in responding to such catastrophes. It also illustrates the increasing capacity of Portugal and the skills of its emergency services to assist other countries, when in need.

He stated: “Portugal, through the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) undertook for the first time in its history, two Joint Forces simultaneously for two different Theatres of Operations, Turkey and Chile, each with very different operational characteristics, comprising 196 professionals of various specialties and high technical ability.

“As I previously stated, not because it helps our financial results, or our performance rating, but because with these initiatives we demonstrate that we want to help, not because we need to, but because the wellbeing of others is our wellbeing too. But also because Portugal, despite being a small country, demonstrates itself as an international partner co-producing security and actively participates in building a safer world.

And finally because we have the ability to do so. And this ability is built on a day-to-day basis with the intense work of all who in ANEPC and in the most diverse civil protection agents, with this effort, assert themselves as agents of change for the safety of all, near and beyond borders”.

We wish all those who have been deployed on these dangerous missions a safe return.

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and the PSP published some disturbing figures concerning the level of reports they had dealt with concerning dating violence. Complaints of dating violence registered by the PSP have increased by 10% in five years, receiving more than 10,400 complaints between 2018 and 2022. They point out that this includes: physical, psychological, social, sexual and economic aspects, with such violence being be carried out through insults, threats, offenses, aggressions, humiliation, persecution or intrusion of intimacy.

Our association, Safe Communities Portugal has received several reports from victims of domestic violence and this involves both the foreign and local communities in Portugal. We work closely with APAV (Victim support association) concerning domestic violence and we have held a number of seminars on this subject including one for vulnerable groups last year. It is important that to be aware of the signs and to seek help in these situations. If you need help or know someone who does, APAV is available for support, through its various services, namely the Victim Support Line 116 006 – weekdays, from 08h00 to 22h00 – free and confidential number.

Lastly our team at Safe Communities wishes you all the best for the week ahead and a special message to those in the Portuguese civil protection forces on deployment to Turkey and Chile. We wish you a safe return. 

News

GNR registered 1,421 crimes of dating violence in 2022

Lisbon, Feb 14, 2022 (Lusa) – The GNR recorded 1,421 crimes of dating violence in 2022, 28.5% more than in 2021, reveal data from that security force, according to which 17% of the registered cases are related to minors of 25 years.

In a statement to mark Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated today, the National Republican Guard (GNR) says that in 2022, in the area of ​​its responsibility, 1,421 crimes of dating violence were recorded in all age groups, specifying that 244 of victims were aged up to 24 years.

In 2021, 1,105 crimes of dating violence were recorded in all age groups, with 332 victims aged up to 24 years old.

During this week, the GNR is developing the awareness and prevention campaign #NãoTeCales, which aims to encourage all young people to denounce and not accept any type of psychological, emotional, physical, social or sexual violence.

The campaign aims to raise awareness among young people so that they say no to violence and so that they can stop this type of behaviour, both for themselves and for others, reads the statement.

“It is important to alert young people to the importance of healthy relationships, based on principles and values ​​such as self-esteem, respect and tolerance, which are pillars of dating relationships, promoting an anti-violence culture through greater awareness”.

According to the GNR, the impact of this type of violence at an early age can be the acceptance of this violence in the future, compromising the victims involved, their families and society as a whole.

The Public Security Police (PSP) also announced today, regarding Valentine’s Day, that it had registered 2,109 complaints of dating violence in 2022, which represented an increase of 10% in five years.

The PSP states that, between 2018 and 2022, it received 10,480 complaints of dating violence, with the majority of victims being women.

According to the PSP, in 2018 1,920 complaints were registered, the following year 2,185, in 2020 they decreased to 2,051, rising again in 2021 to 2,215 and, last year, the complaints dropped again, registering 2,109.

The police point out that dating violence takes on physical, psychological, social, sexual and economic aspects and this violence can be carried out through insults, threats, offenses, aggressions, humiliation, persecution or intrusion of intimacy.

The PSP calls for victims, as well as the people closest to them, to be aware of signs of constant pressure, such as isolation from family and friends due to the aggressor’s will.

To mark Valentine’s Day, PSP is carrying out, between today and February 18, an awareness-raising and information operation in schools on the prevention of domestic violence, namely dating violence, being an initiative aimed at young people between 13 and 18 years old.

Azores – Dogs from the kennel becoming medical alert dogs

Dogs from the Intermunicipal Kennel will be selected and trained to help people with diabetes.

Around nine dogs from the Terceira Island Intermunicipal Kennel are undergoing selection tests to be trained and join the Pata D’Açúcar 2023 Program.

The objective is to help more people with diabetes and also to improve the well-being of animals that have been abandoned, turning them into medical alert dogs.

This is a protocol between the Municipality of Angra do Heroísmo and the Pata D’Açúcar Association.

Pata d’Açucar association – “Because life is made of new opportunities, by rescuing dogs from shelters for abandoned animals and preparing them to become Medical Alert Dogs, we give a new direction to the lives of these animals by helping to improve the quality of life of people with diabetes.

Valentine’s Day makeup: Banksy’s new work warns of domestic violence

A new artwork by British artist Banksy has appeared this Tuesday February 14, Valentine’s Day, on a wall in Margate, Kent. Confirmation of authenticity was made, as usual, by the mysterious artist on his website and Instagram.

The artwork titled “Valentine’s day mascara” – free translation, “Valentine’s Day makeup” – shows a woman with a visibly hurt face. On Instagram, Banksy purposely posts three photographs of the mural, each one taking a closer look at the face so you can see the injuries.

Taking advantage of an abandoned freezer next to the building, Banksy painted a man’s legs, giving the illusion that the mistreated woman had taken revenge on her husband, placing him inside the chest.

According to British media, the building is located in Margate, Kent.

Banksy, whose identity remains a mystery, began spray-painting trains and walls in his hometown of Bristol in the 1990s, and soon left his artistic mark all over the world.

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 8^th February 2023

As we monitor the tragic events in Turkey and Syria, it should remind us that Portugal is also at risk of earthquakes having experienced those with even higher magnitudes in the past, which resulted in widespread devastation. This feature looks at what is fast becoming a humanitarian crisis as the international community responds to the events in the two countries concerned, and importance of seismic risk awareness closer to home.

Being aware, being prepared could help save your life should a major earthquake occur – wherever you are!

News in the last three days has been dominated by the tragic events in Turkey and Syria with two major earthquakes within 9 hours and 80 kilometres apart – in addition to which there have been around 300 aftershocks, 100+ of which have exceeded 4 Magnitude.

Aftershocks, freezing temperatures and damaged roads are hampering efforts to reach and rescue those affected by Monday’s earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria, which has killed more than 11,200 people and destroyed thousands of buildings. Another 37,000 are reported injured in Turkey alone (Updated 0730 hrs)

As the scale of the devastation from the two major earthquakes continues to unfold, the World Health Organization warned that the number of fatalities could exceed 20,000.

As we monitor the national response and relief effort in the two countries concerned, we become more aware of the considerable challenges the rescuers and relief workers face. In Turkey the details of the response, deployment of resources and equipment are relatively clear, with regular reports from the country’s Civil Protection force; reporting this morning for instance that some 79,000 workers are engaged in the rescue effort. Despite this, there is growing anger from many affected, expressed through media interviews that their government have been slow to respond.

Time is of the essence, but this must be viewed in the context that the devastation is huge over a wide area, severely hampering the capacity of local and national authorities to effectively respond to a catastrophe of this scale – as it would be the case in many countries. This situation is also exacerbated by poor weather conditions, which together with roads and bridges destroyed by the earthquake, will impact in response times.

The situation in Syria is also hampered by the fact it is an impoverished nation with a long standing civil war, which has already cost countless lives and damaged infrastructure. There are between three and four million Syrian refugees in southeast Turkey – and more now spilling into the country.

Syria was accused of playing politics with aid after the Syrian ambassador to the UN, Bassam Sabbagh, said his country should be responsible for the delivery of all aid into Syria, including those areas not under Syrian government control. The dispute over the control of the aid is hampering efforts into northern Syria, which is held by rebel groups. The government in Damascus allows aid to enter the region through only one border crossing. This is no time for politics whilst many thousands are people are displaced and trapped in collapsed buildings.

However, the international community has been quick to respond, with humanitarian aid, rescue personnel and specialist equipment being pledged, or already deployed, by countries from as far afield as New Zealand, Australia, China, UK and even Ukraine which is facing a catastrophe of its own resulting from the Russian invasion. Portugal as part of the EU response mechanism is deploying 53 operatives co-ordinated by the ANEPC. Once it arrives its will need a massive coordination effort in the face of many challenges, including political in Syria, to ensure that the resources, aid and equipment reach the most affected areas as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence, especially with sub-zero temperatures in parts of the areas affected.

Over a dozen EU member states have so far responded to Turkey’s call for assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.  Urban search and rescue teams are being mobilised from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Romania with Hungary, Italy, Spain, Malta and Slovakia also offering their assistance.

This is an important mechanism and is the same as that used by Portugal for instance when there are a series of major fires when additional aircraft and operatives maybe required. The fact that there is an establish mechanism allows the quick processing of requests and more importantly rapid deployment.

These tragic events in Turkey and Syria should serve as a reminder that Portugal is at risk of earthquakes. While earthquakes are widespread throughout Europe, the most destructive events have historically occurred in the Mediterranean countries, particularly Greece, Italy, Turkey, and Portugal. Many damaging historical events have taken place in Portugal, which is a seismically active country located on the Eurasian plate, along its southern border with the African plate, north of the Azores-Gibraltar transform fault.

Portugal is characterized by moderate intraplate earthquakes, but offshore inter-plate faults may cause extremely damaging events as well. The Lower Tagus Valley (LTV) fault is an important fault zone located in the vicinity of Lisbon. Some of the most destructive earthquakes that have taken place in Portugal are associated with this zone.

The more critical source of concern is the Lower Tagus Valley region, which could produce a magnitude 6 to 7 earthquake with a return period as short as 150 to 200 years. This seismic source zone, with its proximity to Lisbon, the large number of old masonry buildings, and a fraction of reinforced concrete frames designed with limited lateral resistance, presents the most significant potential for large loss earthquakes in Portugal.

This why each year in November the Government holds the Seismic Risk Awareness Campaign, known as “A Terra Treme”, which in 2019 (prior to pandemic)  involved number over 750,000 students and adults including Safe Communities Portugal, to ensure that in the event of an earthquake everyone knows how to respond, namely “Drop Cover Hold”. We await the 2022 figures. https://www.aterratreme.pt/

We cannot prevent such natural disasters, but knowing the correct action to take, can certainly reduce the impact and save lives.  More about earthquakes here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/find-information/environment-and-weather/earthquake-tsunami/

Safe Communities Portugal is a qualified Civil Protection Volunteer Organisation under Portuguese law.

David Thomas – President Safe Communities Portugal

Other News:

Fertagus trains expect disruption of services on Thursday 9^th February due to IP rail strike

Fertagus – which operates the railway line that passes through the 25 de Abril Bridge, has announced that there will be restrictions on train services on Thursday 9th February between 00:00 and 24:00 hrs

The Fertagus rail service, which connects Setúbal and Lisbon, will experience “disruptions” on Thursday, due to the Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) strike, according to the operator.

In a note published on its website, Fertagus – which operates this railway line, passing over the 25 de Abril Bridge, upon payment of a user fee to IP – there will be a disruption of train services that day.

“Since minimum services have not been decreed by the CES – Economic and Social Council, we are unable to predict the times that will be possible to perform services”, says the company.

The carrier currently serves 14 stations, over a length of around 54 kilometres, and its service is responsible for close to 85,000 daily journeys.

The Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (Fectrans) announced, on the 25th of January, that the workers of CP – Comboios de Portugal and IP will be on strike on the 9th of February.

At issue, according to the unions, is the lack of response from the two companies to the salary enhancement propos

Cold and fireplaces cause high concentrations of polluting particles in the North – study

Lisbon, Feb 7, 2023 (Lusa) – Last week, the northern region of mainland Portugal registered high concentrations of pollutant particles due to cold weather, poor air dispersion conditions and the use of fireplaces, according to an assessment by the Universidade Nova de Lisboa released today. .

The analysis carried out by the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa/FCT NOVA, points to the need to “adopt measures of an exceptional nature (…) to reduce the risk of short-term exposure of the population to pollutants”.

Speaking to the Lusa agency, Francisco Ferreira, from the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at FCT NOVA, explained that particles “are pollutants with worse consequences for public health worldwide”.

“We are talking about seven million premature deaths per year, both in terms of indoor air quality and mainly outdoor air. [The particles] have a set of compounds that interfere with our respiratory and cardiovascular systems,” he pointed out.

According to Francisco Ferreira, the smaller the particles, the greater the consequences.

In the last week, “high concentrations of inhalable pollutant particles with levels above the legislated limit value (…), affecting mainly the northern region” of the country were recorded.

“The meteorological conditions observed since January 30, Monday, have contributed to the accumulation of atmospheric pollutants on the surface, causing a strong degradation of air quality”, in addition to “the greater use of fireplaces for domestic heating”, reads up in the study.

For the also president of the Zero environmentalist association, fireplaces “are problematic from the point of view of air quality itself”.

“This is a problem that we will only be able to overcome if we have more efficient housing and buildings, if we have programs and actions to raise awareness of heating systems using biomass, but with less impact”, he said.

“On very cold days, this excessive use of firewood is problematic, when we have meteorological conditions that aggravate the problem, without wind. (…) In the short term, we should make an appeal for people to avoid the intense use of fireplaces”, he added.