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Situation Reports news and reviews

 

Madeira Situation Report Wednesday 15th February 2023

by Daniel Fernandes

Heavy seas warning

A warning against heavy seas has been issued and will be in place until 12h00 on Friday (February 17th). Waves that could be 5 metres-high and could have a maximum height of 9 metres are expected to come from the North/North-West. 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, the following advice has been issued:

– Reinforce the mooring lines and keep a close watch on the vessels that are docked or moored.

– Avoid walking by the sea or in areas that are exposed to heavy seas such as piers, beaches and cliffs so as not to be hit by a wave.

– Do not go fishing, particularly on cliffs and areas that are regularly hit by waves. Be mindful that the water can reach seemingly safe areas during these harsh conditions.

Porto Santo Line cancelled today’s ferry crossings due to bad weather

Porto Santo Line informed that today’s ferry crossings (Funchal-Porto Santo at 08h00 & Porto Santo-Funchal at 18h00) on the Lobo Marinho ferry boat will be cancelled as a result of bad weather that makes it impossible for the ferry boat to dock safely in Porto Santo.

Passengers can change their reservations by phone (+351 291 210 300 – Monday to Sunday from 09h00 to 19h00 except public holidays) or by email (infopsl@gruposousa.pt).

Estrada dos Anjos blocked due to a landslide

The Municipality of Ponta do Sol informed that Estrada dos Anjos is blocked due to a big landslide that hit the road and agricultural land on February 13th, at around 22h00. Nobody was hurt and no buildings were damaged. Teams from the Municipality of Ponta do Sol and from the Municipal Civil Protection Service were on the scene to assess the situation.

Parking is forbidden at Avenida do Mar

The Municipality of Funchal informed that there will be traffic restrictions and parking will be forbidden next to the central area of Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses, on February 16th and 17th, from 09h30 to 17h00. This will be due to scheduled work on the trees in the area. Drivers are asked to be patient and to comply with the temporary signs and with the Police instructions. The PSP Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública) will be managing the traffic.

Traffic restrictions at Rua 31 de Janeiro and Rua 5 de Outubro

The Municipality of Funchal has also announced there will be traffic restrictions at Rua 31 de Janeiro and Rua 5 de Outubro, today, from 09h30 to 17h00. This will be due to the pruning of the bougainvillea that is along Ribeira de Santa Luzia. Drivers are asked to be patient and to comply with the temporary signs and with the Police instructions. The PSP Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública) will be managing the traffic.

41st anniversary of the Madeira Regional Civil Protection Service

The Madeira Regional Civil Protection Service (Serviço Regional de Proteção Civil) will celebrate its 41st anniversary on Friday (February 17th). Its longest-serving employees will be honoured in a ceremony that will be attended by Pedro Ramos (Madeira’s Health and Civil Protection Secretary), all Civil Protection Agents, and several entities that cooperate in rescue and emergency operations in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. In addition, António Nunes will complete his first year in charge of the Service, and will evaluate all the work that was carried out in the previous year and speak about its plans and commitments for 2023.

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:

FUNCHAL

February 15th – 09h00 to 11h30 (TODAY)

– Rua da Pedra Sina (number 25F)

– Caminho do Palheiro (numbers 117B, 127, 162 and 164)

QUINTA GRANDE

February 15th – 15h00 to 15h30 (TODAY)

– Aviário Ovo Girão (poultry farm)

FUNCHAL

February 16th – 09h00 to 11h30

– Caminho da Portada de Santo António (number 1)

– Travessa dos Poços (numbers 8, 10 and 10A)

FUNCHAL

February 17th – 00h00 to 06h00

– Estrada Monumental (numbers 179 to 264)

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 15th February 2023

Azores break record for overnight stays in tourist accommodation in 2022 

The Azores accounted for around 3.2 million overnight stays in tourist accommodation in 2022, an amount above that of 2019, in which a record value had been recorded, according to data from the Regional Statistics Service (SREA).

In the year 2022, in the range of tourist accommodation establishments (hotels, apartment hotels, tourist apartments, inns, rural tourism units and local accommodation units) in the Azores, 3,215.4 thousand overnight stays were recorded, a higher figure by 65.7% compared to the year 2021.

According to data from the Azores Regional Statistics Service, the value for 2022 is the highest since there have been records, surpassing the 2019 record (3,009,385 overnight stays), by 6.8%.

Overnight stays from tourists residing abroad (1,945.4 thousand) more than doubled compared to the same period last year (149.4%), surpassing those of tourists residing in Portugal (1,270.0 thousand), which also registered an increase, but less accentuated (9.4%).

Azores always available for a “good reception” of immigrants 

The President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, said that the region is a “welcoming community”, which is “always available” to promote a “good reception” of immigrants, whether for economic or humanitarian reasons.

“We are a welcoming community. We have done this in all situations where there is migration for economic reasons and for humanitarian reasons, fleeing persecution or war. We have always been a welcoming community. Today, as always, the Azores and this government will be available for good integration and a good reception”, he said, when asked about the migration policy in the region.

He was speaking to journalists at the Palácio da Conceição, in Ponta Delgada, after a meeting of the Regional Advisory Council for Immigration Affairs.

Carnival returns to the streets in São Miguel with Coliseum dances almost sold out. 

Carnival returns to the streets in São Miguel after two years of interregnum due to the pandemic, with parades, the Battle of Limas and dances, including the one at the Coliseu Micaelense, with an “almost sold out” capacity.

“There is great demand. The two dances, the one on Friday and the one on Monday, are almost sold out”, said today the chairman of the board of directors of the Coliseu Micaelense, Cila Simas.

The first Carnival celebration dated back to 1918 at the Coliseu Micaelense, in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel.  Three years later, gala balls began at that venue, with women wearing long dresses and men in black suits, a tradition that is repeated annually during the Carnival season, only suspended due to the covid-19 pandemic. .

“There is a lot of Carnival events on offer, which makes people divide. But the Coliseum maintains the same percentage of participants as in years prior to the pandemic”, highlighted Cila Simas, stressing that there is a great affinity of the public with the traditional Carnival galas at the concert hall.

“This is a ball with great traditions and always has a faithful audience”, underlined the person responsible for the Coliseu Micaelense, a building from the beginning of the 20th century.

President of SATA says that there are already interested parties in the privatization of Azores Airlines 

The president of SATA Holding, SA, Luís Rodrigues, announced that there are at least “half a dozen interested parties” in the privatization of 51% of Azores Airlines, even without the terms of reference having been concluded.

Flights between the Azores and North America with “great demand” 

The president of SATA stated that renting an Airbus A330 plane to connect the Azores to North America during the summer is the “most profitable solution”, revealing that the flights are in “great demand”.

Speaking to the Lusa agency, Luís Rodrigues said that the company will rent (in a leasing service) an Airbus A330 to the Spanish airline Plus Ultra Líneas Aérea, which will serve “fundamentally” to connect Oakland, California, to the Azorean archipelago.

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 15th 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.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 15th February 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all and we start this report with the results of the recent Excess Speed Campaign which took place across the country from the 31st January to the 6th February. Whilst this campaign was countrywide the Algarve was unfortunately one of the areas where we saw two deaths associated with driving too fast.

More than 16,000 drivers were caught by speeding cameras during the road safety campaign “Travel without haste”, which ran from January 31 to February 6, revealed this week to GNR .

According to the note released by that security force, which jointly coordinated the initiative with the PSP and the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), a total of 2,763,415 vehicles were monitored during this period on radars, with 16,154 registering speeding offences in the national territory. The vast majority of vehicles were inspected at the ANSR speed controls, with 2,352,713 vehicles, while the GNR monitored 269,343 and the PSP controlled 141,359.

However, it was the security forces that detected the highest number of infractions on their radars, with a total of 8,659, distributed among 6,097 in the GNR control systems and 2,562 in the PSP, while the ANSR registered 7,495 infractions for speeding.

During this period, 2,501 accidents were recorded, which resulted in eight deaths (all male), 40 serious injuries and 738 minor injuries.

Compared to the same period of 2022, the data show an increase in the number of accidents (279 more) and minor injuries (131 more), with only a decrease in the number of deaths (three less) and serious injuries (three less) .

The GNR statement also clarifies that the eight accidents which resulted in fatalities took place in the districts of Braga (2), Lisbon (2), Faro (2), Coimbra and Santarém. At the origin of these accidents were one being run over, four collisions, two motorcycles skidding on a straight line and a light vehicle on a curve.

All too often we all see what we feel is unnecessary speeding on the roads especially the non motorway roads.

 This campaign was continued for the following week this time in the Algarve, again by the GNR. The Faro Territorial Command of the National Republican Guard (GNR), reports that it carried out a number of operations in the district of Faro, from the 6th to the 12th of February, which was aimed at preventing and combating violent crime, and included road inspection of vehicles. As a result 711 infractions were detected during this period.

Of the total infractions detected in the Algarve region, the GNR highlights 259 for speeding, 49 for lack of mandatory periodic inspection, 35 for improper use of the mobile phone while driving, 32 related to anomalies in the lighting and signalling systems, 31 for lack or incorrect use of the seat belt and/or child restraint system and 29 for lack of civil liability insurance.

During the period in question, the national security force arrested 74 people with emphasis on 34 for driving under the influence of alcohol, (over 1.2g/l) 22 for driving without a driving licence and 4 for drug trafficking. If these operations lead to a reduction in accidents on our road then we should all be thankful.

Now let’s look at some of the other news from around the Algarve in the last week.

One Person Died in Road Collision in Lagos

A collision between a heavy goods vehicle and a light car caused one death this Saturday on National Road 125, in Lagos, according to Civil Protection . The road was closed for a length of time.

A spokesman for the Algarve Regional Civil Protection Command said that “death was declared on the spot”.The victim was trapped inside the light vehicle and was removed by emergency teams at the scene.

The collision took place at the entrance to Lagos and, according to information on the Civil Protection website, there were 22 operators supported by 11 vehicles.

New Bridge for Guadiana River Crossing

The work on the new bridge between Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana, in Spain, is due to start in May 2024, so that it is possible to complete the work before the end of the fourth quarter of 2025 and guarantee the financing of €9 million of the Recovery Plan and Resilience (PRR).According to a report by Sul Informação, the tight schedule for the construction of the bridge was revealed in a presentation made by the Alcoutim Council during a working visit by Isabel Ferreira, Secretary of State for Regional Development, to Mértola and Alcoutim.

Osvaldo Gonçalves, president of the Alcoutim Chamber, admitted that there is only one month “reserved” for unforeseen events.

This month the designer of the bridge will be chosen, who will have to prepare the project for the execution of the bridge by the end of June (4 months).Meanwhile, the tender for contracting the Environmental Impact Assessment process has already taken place, which should start in February and last until August, the month in which Alcoutim Council hopes to have a favourable Environmental Impact Declaration in hand.

The execution period for the work is 19 months, a little over a year and a half, with completion scheduled for November 2025. In the following months, the work will be received and inspected.

The bridge will be built north of the village of Alcoutim, next to the Youth Hostel, and Sanlúcar de Guadiana, on the slope below the fortress.

The upper part of the deck will have to be located about 27 metres above the river water level, to allow the passage of masted vessels. The bridge deck should have a total length of about 318 metres, with a deck width of about 12 metres. Given its importance, the bridge will be designed for a useful life of 100 years.

Major Roadworks Start this Week in Portimao

Work on the new road in downtown Portimão started this week and will affect traffic during the six-month period estimated for the intervention, warned the Algarve Chamber.

The works will make it possible to build a “road connection between Largo 1.º de Novembro and Largo do Dique”, in the centre of Portimão, and “extend car circulation from Avenida Guanaré to Largo 1.º de Novembro”, justified the municipality in a communiqué.The same source indicated that the “contract has an estimated duration of six months” and includes the requalification of Largo do Dique, which will be “sealed” and with “suppressed parking” while the works are carried out.

The municipality recognized that the intervention will cause “changes and constraints to car circulation in the area, at public transport stops, taxis and in the parking lot” of Largo do Dique, but underlined that all will be “duly signposted throughout the surrounding area to facilitate the displacement of people and vehicles.”

“Given the impact that the intervention may have on the daily lives of motorists circulating in the area, the municipality of Portimão requests a better understanding of all, recommending the option of alternative routes whenever possible”, appealed the municipality of the district of Faro.

The Municipality of Portimão also recalled that, for the creation of this route, the municipality acquired two houses facing Rua Júdice Biker and Largo do Dique, in an investment of around 700,000 euros.

The two residences were demolished about a year ago and the intervention freed the area to now proceed with the construction of this new motorway, which will make it possible to connect two of the main squares in downtown Portimão.

Monchique Gets New Fire Plan

The Integrated Landscape Management Area, also known as the Monchique Green Corridor and formerly known as the Pilot Area, was presented on Friday, February 3, in the auditorium of the Manuel do Nascimento School, announced the municipality.

This green corridor aims to “change the situation of high vulnerability to rural fires , in a continuous peri-urban area, surrounding the village of Monchique, with about 1,217.95 hectares”, according to the statement.

To support the execution of this green corridor, the use of several specific multi-fund financial instruments is planned, such as the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), with aid for interventions of 100% of the overall eligible amount, including expenses or unit costs.

The presentation session of this green corridor was attended by the executive of the Municipality of Monchique and the technicians responsible for the process, who presented information about the program and the adhesion to the future management entity.

Representatives of institutions and organised groups such as the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests also participated.

During the session, topics such as the main geographical characteristics of the intervention area, vulnerabilities to rural fires, options for creating the Management Entity, the advantages of grouping rural landowners, the objectives of transforming the forest landscape and financial support were also addressed. from the PRR to rural landowners.

The initiative also included a discussion on the various options for creating the management entity, with the municipality arguing “the option for the path of local associations, compared to the business option, because it is the one that brings the most advantages and that best defends the interests of the communities”. populations, landowners and local actors”.

The Municipality of Monchique, in addition to being co-responsible, will also play key roles in transferring knowledge, supporting procedural management and providing technical assistance throughout all phases of the project.With the objective of constituting the association, at the end of the session, forms were distributed for pre-adherence of rural landowners to the future management entity.

Car Skid claims Life of Woman in Silves Municipality

A 69-year-old woman died this Friday after a light vehicle crashed on National Road (EN) 264 in São Bartolomeu de Messines , Silves municipality, said a Civil Protection source.

The alert for the accident in Ladeira da Bernarda was given at 18:25 and the death was declared on the spot, said a source from the Algarve Sub-regional Command.

Following the crash of the light vehicle, two other people suffered minor injuries, having been transported to the Portimão Hospital , he added.

On site were elements of the Volunteer Firefighters of São Bartolomeu de Messines, INEM and GNR, a total of 13 operational, supported by six vehicles.

PSP detain 3 Suspects in Assault of Nepalese Immigrant in Olhao

The PSP this Monday detained three young people for assaulting a Nepalese immigrant in Olhão, with a total of 11 identified, between 14 and 16 years old, for participating or witnessing the acts.

Faro district commander of the PSP , Dário Prates, said that the three young people arrested, all aged 16, are “the most active and violent” of the group, made up of eight boys and three girls, all students and residents of Olhão. “It was possible to relate this group to eight occurrences, five for robberies and three for assaults, in the month of January alone”, he underlined, adding that today’s police operation aimed at “gathering evidence by carrying out six house searches”, as well as such as the arrest of three of the most active young people, with a view to their presentation to the court.

According to the district commander of that security force, the PSP viewed more than 20,000 videos, as well as hundreds of hours of images collected by the video surveillance circuit cameras installed in the city of Olhão, images that proved to be “essential for the investigation”, as well as having Several witnesses come forward.

The aggression committed against the Nepalese immigrant in Olhão, which became public with the dissemination of a video on social networks, was condemned by the Portuguese authorities, who consider it to be “unacceptable behaviour” that must be “exemplarily punished”.

In addition to the violent aggression, which took place on January 25, the group stole the victim’s backpack, who did not press charges.

Until the next time Good Day- Bom Dia.

 

Madeira Situation Report Wednesday 8th February 2023

by Daniel Fernandes

Regional Civil Protection Service willing to deploy personnel to Türkiye and Syria

On Monday, the Regional Civil Protection Service (Serviço Regional de Protecção Civil) expressed its willingness to deploy some of its personnel to help in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism’s rescue and aid missions to the areas that were affected by the February 5th earthquake that affected Türkiye and Syria.

The ANEPC (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Protecção Civil) expressed its gratefulness to the Madeiran offer and highlighted its capabilities that can be useful in ANEPC missions.

proteccao-civil-regional-disposta-a-ajudar-na-turquia-e-na-siria

New Civil Protection vehicle for Ponta do Sol

The Municipality of Ponta do Sol purchased an all-terrain vehicle for the recently-created Municipal Civil Protection Service (Serviço Municipal de Protecção Civil – SMPC). The vehicle cost nearly €100,000 and will be useful for logistical support, operational command, search and rescue operations, and the protection of people, goods and the environment.

camara-da-ponta-do-sol-reforca-proteccao-civil-com-novo-veiculo

New discount on Binter flights

Binter launched a new campaign of discounts on flights between Madeira and the Canary Islands. The campaign will be in place for flights that will take place from April 13th to June 15th. It will
enable passengers to book flights for a minimum of €64. These flights must be booked until February 20th. Bookings can be made on Binter’s website (www.binter.pt), by phone (291 290 129) or through a travel agency.

binter-lanca-nova-promocao-para-voar-ate-as-canarias

Water supply disruption

There will be a water supply disruption on February 9th, from 14h00 to 18h00, in the Parish of Tabua (Municipality of Ribeira Brava), due to scheduled work on the supply network in order to
prevent water leaks. The following places will be affected: Lugares; Ribeira; Terça

https://funchalnoticias.net/2023/02/03/arm-avisa-para-interrupcoes-do-abastecimento-de-agua-em-
varios-concelhos/

Power cuts

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:

FUNCHAL
February 10th – 09h00 to 11h30
– Estrada da Corujeira (numbers 75 to 86)
– Travessa da Levada dos Tornos (numbers 6 and 8)
– Escadinhas Cabeço do Império (numbers 1 to 15)

February 10th – 00h00 to 06h00
– Avenida do Infante (number 74)
– Avenida de Luís de Camões
– Rua dos Ilhéus (números 22 a 79)
– Rua da Nova dos Ilhéus (numbers 2 to 9)

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.

https://funchalnoticias.net/2023/02/07/publicidade-o-fornecimento-de-energia-sera-interrompido-
nos-dias-horas-e-locais-abaixo-indicados-anuncio-011-2023/

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 8th 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 9th 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.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 8th February 2023

From our colleague in the Azores

Government of the Azores will invest in the region’s Coastal Station 

Created in 2003, the Coastal Station supports the fishing sector and recreational and commercial nautical activities, through weather information and warnings, closing and opening notices for authorized fishing periods or information on the prices of fish from fish auctions in the Azores.

It works in collaboration with the Maritime Authority, the Search and Rescue Centre of Ponta Delgada, the Guidance Centre for Urgent Patients at Sea, the Portuguese Air Force and the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service.

Manuel São João said that, “immediately, this service will have better interconnection of the Sea-Sea and Land-Sea communications circuits, all the computer hardware will be renewed and the long-range MF/HF radio coverage will be reinforced until around 400 miles”.

There will be complete modernization of the entire network of relays and antennas on several islands is planned, as well as the updating of the control station systems, the increase in coverage in areas that currently have limitations, namely the installation of a new VHF station on Terceira Island. and in Corvo, the installation of MF/HF on the island of Faial and the preparation of new digital communication systems for sending and receiving emails and automated meteorological information.

 Body awaits funeral in the Azores for more than seven months. 

A middle-aged man, who was found dead on June 30th last year, in the house where he lives, in the city of Horta, is still waiting for his funeral, more than seven months after his death.

The case was confirmed by the Public Relations office of Hospital da Horta, where the corpse has been stored in a cold chamber since the date of death, as no family member has claimed the body.

In addition, according to the same source, the corpse in question was autopsied on July 7th, 2022, by order of the Public Ministry, to try to determine the cause of death, but until today the Hospital has never received authorization to release the body and proceed with the funeral.

The body of this person, who was not a native of Faial and who had no relatives on the island, was moved more than once, due to a malfunction in the cold chambers of the Hospital, it has been stored in a cold container, outside that health unit, for most of the time.

This is not, however, the first case of a corpse waiting several months for a funeral on the island of Faial.

A citizen of foreign nationality, who also died in June last year, after a car accident, was also waiting for the body to be released by the Public Ministry, so that the family can carry out the funeral.

 

Ponta Delgada now has an urgent care service. 

The Health Unit on the island of São Miguel will have an urgent care service at its headquarters in Ponta Delgada, aiming to free the hospital for hospital services.

The urgent care service in Ponta Delgada – which already operates in other municipalities on the island of São Miguel, is being built for situations of moderate or lesser severity.

Seven new doctors will reinforce the Regional Health Service and will be distributed across the island of São Miguel in areas that are most in need such as the Northeast, Povoação, Ginetes and Maia”, aiming to provide an ever closer, faster and more effective response within the scope of what primary health care is.

In addition to the urgent care service, the Health Unit on the island of São Miguel will promote complementary and extra daily consultations to relieve the pressure of the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo.

 

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 8th February 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all. This week the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was in Olhao and took time out to meet with a young Nepalese Worker who was attacked by a group of young people in the town. The President speaking to Journalists emphasised that Portugal is a country of emigrants and as such we should all work to maintain the harmony of all the different nationalities that are settled in the country.

The President was talking to a class of secondary students and he defended that the Portuguese have “the obligation to better understand” what immigrants feel when they arrive in the country, since Portugal is traditionally a country of emigrants.“We have an obligation to understand better, because other European countries have no tradition of emigration. How is it that we don’t understand what others feel here?”, he asked, days after the attacks on a Nepalese immigrant by a group of young people in that city were made public.

The video shared on social media last Friday shows the immigrant lying on the ground, in a defensive position, trying to protect himself from kicks, punches and sticks inflicted by the aggressors, whose faces are not clearly visible because they are wearing hoods. The case is being investigated by the PSP, which has already identified some of those responsible.

O Presidente da República, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, conversa com dois imigrantes nepaleses que foram agredidos em Olhão, 6 de fevereiro de 2023. LUIS FORRA/LUSA

Rejecting the idea that Portugal is a xenophobic country, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa warned, however, of the need for societies to remain vigilant, so that fear and defensive attitudes towards immigration do not lead to xenophobic behaviour.The ageing of European societies has created what I call fear, a reactive, defensive attitude and, therefore, a rejection of difference, and from there to xenophobia is a small step and one has to be attentive to that small step. step because it means less democracy and even less respect for what our experience as a country of emigrants is”, he underlined.

In addition to the repeated attacks, the group also stole the victim’s backpack, who did not file a complaint, while he begs them to stop attacking him and at least return the documents he kept in the backpack, as can be seen in the video.

PSP source said that an investigation was underway to find out who were the perpetrators of the attacks and the theft, who published the video on social networks and the circumstances in which they occurred.

The investigation is also trying to determine how many elements made up the group and the involvement of each of them in the crimes committed.

Being an Immigrant myself in this wonderful country, we should all be mindful of this fact and hope that this instance is an isolated incident and not something that may increase as more and more people see Portugal as a wonderful place to live and bring up their families.

Now to look at some of the other news stories from across the region.

Telecommunications workers on strike on February 9

Telecommunications and audiovisual workers will be on strike next Thursday, the same day that a day of struggle by the CGTP is scheduled , demanding wage increases to face the impact of inflation.

“The CGTP has scheduled a national day of struggle and protest for February 9th. The day of struggle will be carried out at the regional level. The SINTTAV [National Union of Telecommunication and Audiovisual Workers] put a strike notice for most companies in the sector”, indicating, in a statement, the union structure. SINTTAV regretted that the Government and most companies continue the “’saga’ of exploitation” of workers, when they have “less and less purchasing power”.

For the union, the Government has not adopted any measure to prevent the “brutal increase” in prices, which leads to a rise in the price of raw materials, which it classified as a “brazen robbery”.

In the same sense, as he defended, companies are “insensitive” to inflation, keeping the focus on profit. “Throughout the country, workers, pensioners and pensioners feel the rise in the cost of living, the degradation of purchasing power and the attack on their rights, while the profits of large economic groups do not stop increasing”, he pointed out.

On Thursday, as part of the day of struggle, scheduled by the CGTP, meetings and plenaries will take place in Faro, Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Funchal (Madeira), northern Alentejo , Porto, Santarém, Vila Real, Viseu and Setúbal.

Maritime Police vessel violently rammed by drug traffickers

Two elements of the Maritime Police were injured after the vessel they were on was hit with “violence” by another vessel, off the Algarve coast, in an operation to combat drug trafficking, it was announced today.

During the operation, a first high-speed vessel was detected, with three crew members, suspected of being linked to drug trafficking . AMN), in a statement Meanwhile, “a second high-speed vessel was detected that was dropping several bales of narcotics into the water”, but the crew, upon realising the presence of the authorities, “purposely” rammed one of the Maritime Police vessels.

“The vessel collided with such violence that it passed over it from one side to the other, damaging the Maritime Police vessel, putting the lives of the agents at risk, who, fortunately, escaped with injuries”, he says, adding that, even with “two injured and two others lying in the water”, the Maritime Police managed to react and raise the alarm.

Unsuccessful, the crew of the second vessel fled and the elements of the Maritime Police were rescued and transported, “stable and free of danger”, by a Portuguese Air Force aircraft to a hospital unit, he concludes.

The drug bundles collected in the joint operation by the Maritime Police and the Portuguese Navy will later be handed over to the Judiciary Police, as well as the three men arrested.

According to the Maritime Authority, in the last “two months there has been a greater degree of violence in the reactions of traffickers”, this being the second case involving authorities’ vessels registered in the Algarve in the last two weeks.

At the end of January, a vessel from the Coastal Control Unit (UCC) was damaged during a pursuit of two high-speed vessels, near the island of Armona, in Olhão, in the district of Faro.

According to the authorities, despite not having been injured, the UCC soldiers had to be rescued after the vessel suffered structural damage, and were therefore unable to proceed with the operation.

Algarve fishing boat caught with more than five tons of hashish

A Portuguese fishing boat with more than five tons of hashish on board was intercepted by the Spanish authorities this Wednesday, off the coast of Ayamonte . The four crew members, including the vessel’s boss, of Portuguese nationality, were arrested.

The trawler Praia de Monte Gordo, from Vila Real de Santo António, was sailing about ten miles from the coast when a patrol vessel from the Spanish Customs Surveillance Service intercepted it, according to the local press. The action, which resulted in the detention of the crew, was carried out by the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency, in the context of patrolling Spanish waters.

The fishing vessel was intercepted by the patrol, as the crew was preparing to transfer the drugs to a speedboat, the Tax Agency announced this Saturday in a statement.

This operation against the international drug trafficking networks that operate off the coast of Huelva began on February 1, when customs surveillance aerial means were observed, 15 miles from Isla Cristina, a pneumatic vessel with powerful engines, which was following without lights. towards the coast.

A “secret pursuit” of the target followed, with air and naval units, and when the boat approached the fishing boat and the “movement” of the crews began, the “Alcatraz” patrol from the Customs Surveillance intervened.

The packages were piled up in the hold of the fishing boat, with the name “Praia de Monte Gordo” and the Portuguese flag. In all, 150 bales of hashish weighing 5.4 tons were seized. TonsThe four people arrested are accused of a crime of smuggling and against public health, according to the EFE agency.

The intercepted boat was taken to the port of Huelva, where an in-depth inspection was carried out, in which 150 seized bales were identified, with a total weight of 5,400 kilos of hashish resin.

The  drugs , the vessel and the detainees were placed under the jurisdiction of Criminal Instruction Court number 4 of Ayamonte..

Man dies after being stabbed near mall

A man died on Thursday, February 2, after being beaten and stabbed next to a car that was parked next to Mar Shopping, in Loulé , according to Correio da Manhã.

The victim was found next to the vehicle that had flat tires, located on the side of the road that connects Faro to Loulé, having been transported to the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, where he ended up dying. The Judiciary Police suspect that the stabbing is drug related amongst rival gangs drug trafficking and are trying to locate the suspect or suspects.

Man suspected of Two Murders in The Algarve Arrested

A man was arrested by the Judiciary Police during a drug trafficking investigation, but is now suspected of having murdered Josiele Rodrigues and Sandra Andrade, two women who were missing and found lifeless, according to Correio da Manhã.

The suspect has already been identified and heard by the Judiciary Police, but that security force says that there is not enough evidence to place him in preventive custody for the crime of homicide. This man would be an alleged client of Josiele Rodrigues, 25 years old, who was a luxury escort and had been missing in Quarteira since December 6 of last year. Her body was now found in an advanced state of decomposition, burned and with signs of violence, in a bush area in Ourique, Alentejo.

The authorities believe that the crime happened after a meeting that could have gone wrong.

The other woman is Sandra Andrade, 49 years old and a TVDE driver who went missing last year and was found dismembered inside a suitcase in Almancil, in the municipality of Loulé .

The 26-year-old suspect, of Portuguese nationality, was presented to an investigating judge in Faro, on Thursday, February 2, but the magistrate released him with a term of identity and residence. During the searches carried out as part of the drug trafficking investigation, the authorities found an ATM card belonging to one of the missing women.

The suspect had already been sentenced in August 2018 to 20 years in prison for the murder of Tatiana Mestre, who was found dead as a result of asphyxiation and with her body burned.

The man was imprisoned for 20 months and was eventually acquitted by the Court of Appeal of Évora and is now considered a possible serial killer.

And finally to end on a more happy note –

Carnival with revelry and joy throughout the county returns to the Algarve

The municipalities of Albufeira, Loule and Portimao will all be encouraging citizens and residents to join in the Carnival celebrations this year.

In Portimao, With the theme “Sustainability and Environment”, the parade of 14 floats takes to the streets of Portimão with five carnival groups and with two exhibition points, on the 19th and 21st of February between Polidesportivo da Figueira and Mexilhoeira Grande and at riverside area of ​​the county seat. The parades start at 3:30 pm, with a parade through the streets of Alvor also planned.

The Carnival balls are also back, with the first ones taking place from February 17th in the rooms of Boa Esperança Atlético Clube Portimonense, Clube União Portimonense, Sociedade Vencedora Portimonense, Sporting Glória ou Morte Portimonense, Clube Desportivo e Recreativo Pedra Mourinha, Sociedade Recreativa Figueirense, Clube de Instrução e Recreio Mexilhoeirense, Associação Cultural e Recreativa Alvorense 1.º de Novembro, and Associação Cultural e Desportiva da Ladeira do Vau.

As in other years, popular mask contests will also take place, starting at 9.30 pm, on the 18th, 19th and 20th of February at Clube União Portimonense, Glória ou Morte, Sociedade Vencedora Portimonense, Clube Desportivo e Recreativo da Pedra Mourinha and at the Associação Cultural e Recreativa Alvorense 1.º de Novembro.

The final is scheduled for February 21, at the same time, at Sporting Glória ou Morte Portimonense.

Whilst Albufeira is preparing to celebrate Carnival, between the 18th and 21st of February at the county seat and in Paderne , announced the municipality .

The Espaço Multiusos de Albufeira will be the stage for dances on the 18th, 19th and 20th, between 21:00 and 03:00, while on the 21st there will be a matinee from 14:00 to 20:00, with a mask competition for children up to 12 years old. The organisation of the event is the responsibility of the Parish Council of Albufeira and Olhos de Água, with the support of the Albufeira City Council and with the participation of the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Albufeira, the Sports and Cultural Club of Albufeira, the Sports Club das Areias de São João and the Association for the Support of Exceptional Persons in the Algarve.

From the 19th to the 21st of February, the parish of Paderne will have a corso with a cart and several cars decorated with feathers and coloured paper, with the theme “Revelry Marafada”.

The parade takes place between 2 pm and 6 pm and is organised by Casa do Povo de Paderne in collaboration with the municipality of Albufeira and the Parish Council of Paderne.

Quarteira is filled with joy, music and animation on the 18th, 19th and 21st of February, to host Carnival, this year with the theme “Natureza em Festa”, announced the parish council.

There will be three days of parade that will take place on Avenida Infante de Sagres from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm and will have the beach as a backdrop. The preservation of nature , for a better planet, will be the motto for a great party with nine floats, five carnival groups, three exhibition points, music, colour and lots of entertainment.

Everyone is encouraged to join in with fancy dress or just as you are!

Until the next time. Good Bye.

 

Madeira Situation Report Wednesday February 1st 2023

by Daniel Fernandes

Home rental prices increased 0.6% in January

The price for renting homes in the Autonomous Region of Madeira increased 0.6% in January, comported to the previous month. Each square metre cost an average of €10.90. The increase in the rental price was higher in Funchal, with an increase of 2.1% and a cost of €11.70 per square metre. The 3-month increase was by 2.9%.

Bone fragments found in São Jorge

Bone fragments were found on Sunday morning on a stream in the parish of São Jorge (Municipality of Santana). The authorities suspect they could be the remains of Benoit Way, a 35-year old French tourist who went missing in September 2022 while hiking. Samples will be sent to the Portuguese mainland in order to identify the remains.

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:

ARCO DA CALHETA

February 1st – 09h30 to 10h15 & 15h30 to 16h15

– Pinheiro

CANHAS

February 1st – 09h30 to 10h15 & 15h30 to 16h15

– Eiras (including poultry farm)

– Chope

– Levada do Poiso (including Britadeira Afavias)

– Pomar

– Ovo Girão

– Cancela

– Malhadinha (including Britadeira)

– Cova Grande

– Parque Empresarial dos Canhas

FUNCHAL

February 2nd – 09h00 to 11h30

– Estrada Comandante Camacho de Freitas (numbers 616 to 697)

– Caminho Novo do Galeão

– Beco da Escola de São Roque

– Escadinhas do Galeão

– Impasse Novo do Galeão

 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 1st February 2023

From our colleague in the Azores

Government of the Azores charters ship to supply Flores Island next week.

The Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure of the Government of the Azores announced that the executive will charter the ship Ponta do Sol to supply the island of Flores from next week.

The Monte Brasil ship has already left Leixões and will try to unload next Saturday, but if the weather does not allow it, the cargo will remain in the port of Ponta Delgada and Ponta do Sol will make the connection to Flores from next week.

The ships that arrived here from Transinsular have already cancelled supplies to the island three times.

In the statement, the Regional Government emphasizes that the executive has “several instruments and various tools” to “always resolve the supply of Flores”.

Berta Cabral also recalls that, in addition to Hurricane Lorenzo that caused “serious damage” in the port of Lajes in 2019, the Efrain depression, in December, also caused constraints to the operation of that infrastructure that guarantees supply to the island.

The ship Monte Brasil, which was supposed to arrive in Flores on Thursday, is delayed and the unloading operation could be at risk because, meanwhile, a worsening of sea conditions is expected.

Gasoline in the Azores drops 6.9 cents per litre on Wednesday and diesel 6.3 cents. 

The price of gasoline in the Azores drops 6.9 cents per litre on Wednesday and the price of diesel 6.3 cents per litre, according to a dispatch published in the Official Journal.

In February, the price of 95-octane unleaded gasoline in the Azores drops from 1,532 euros per litre to 1,463 euros (6.9 cents).

The price of diesel, which in January was also set at 1.532 euros per litre, is now 1.469 euros, which represents a difference of 6.3 cents.

Chamber advances with requalification of the historic centre of Ponta Delgada 

The Ponta Delgada City Council will proceed with the requalification of the historic centre, a “soft” intervention that will respect the heritage and the experience of citizens, revealed the municipality.

In a press release sent today to the newsrooms, the Ponta Delgada municipality informs that “it will proceed with the requalification” of the historic centre of the city, indicating that the intervention begins “on January 30, on Rua Açoriano Oriental”.

The council of the island of São Miguel had launched a contest of ideas for the requalification of the historic centre of Ponta Delgada.