Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 12^th November 2025

Good afternoon everyone. In terms of climate change an important event is taking place in Brazil – COP 30. Specifically Portugal is one of the signatory countries of the “Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Wildfire Resilience”, approved within the framework of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) , which is taking place in Belém do Pará, Brazil.

In the commitment “Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Forest Fire Resilience,” the signatories acknowledge that wildfires are one of the most dramatic manifestations of climate change, affecting all States equally and constituting a challenge that “no country is capable of facing alone.” COP 30 reinforces “our shared commitment in scaling up Integrated Fire Management (IFM). Of the 10 main provisions the following two stand out as very relevant and necessary in addressing some of these important issues.

Firstly is a commitment to promote a global transition from reactive fire suppression toward proactive, prevention-driven, inclusive and ecological fire management strategies that strengthen adaptation and contribute to mitigation, protect biodiversity and combat desertification, through risk-informed planning and implementation covering the entire fire cycle (prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and ecological use of fire). In Portugal we have seen a dramatic change in this direction over the last five years from the high percentage of budget previously being spent on suppression of fires, to prevention.

Strengthening international Cooperation: prevent, fight and recover from wildfires by taking integrated action to reduce the incidence and negative impacts of wildfires and ensure our readiness to help each other and our partners; this includes enhancing collaboration across borders and institutions, consistent with the UNFCCC’s call for the widest possible cooperation, by, where relevant, and consistent with international legal frameworks, sharing technologies, expertise, and resources, and by enhancing interoperability, including developing common protocols for emergency coordination, capacity development, and regional fire governance, in line with the nature of fires and responses associated with them, as well as work under the FAO-hosted Global Fire Management Hub.

Black Friday which this year is 28^th November is approaching, but in reality the sales have already started in the shops and on-line. Black Friday period is one of those that registers the greatest increase in digital scams, especially phishing scams. In this type of scam, criminals clone pages of well-known stores and create fake websites to steal data or money from consumers.

The last two years have seen the emergence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) used by criminals, which is making holiday shopping scams increasingly difficult to spot. Scammers use machine learning to analyse consumer behaviour, crafting targeted attacks that exploit urgency and trust. For instance, fake online stores pop up overnight, offering unbelievable discounts on hot items, only to vanish after collecting payment and personal data. Safe Communities has prepared a feature in this week’s Portugal Resident (out tomorrow) which explains what has changed and advice on how to spot AL generated scams. If you intend to purchase goods on-line I suggest you study this first.

Yet another storm is approaching and that is Storm Claudia now starting to effect Madeira.

The ANEPC have issued a warning to the population which advises people to take special care when driving and staying near tree-lined areas, being aware of the possibility of falling branches and trees due to stronger winds. Also to be extra careful when driving near the coast and riverfront areas historically more vulnerable to floodwaters coastlines, avoiding traffic and staying in these places. The full advice can be found on our Facebook page yesterday and on our website in English here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/current-anpc-weather-warning-to-the-population-2/

Please follow the IPMA weather warnings and ANEPC advice and have a safe week ahead.

News:

Healthcare professionals set an example after appeal for blood donations.

There is a risk of blood shortages in hospitals because reserves are below normal. The situation is not yet considered critical, but authorities are again asking the public for help. In hospitals like the one in Braga, healthcare professionals themselves are setting an example.

The appeal from the Portuguese Federation of Voluntary Blood Donors (FEPODABES) resonated even within its own walls. Joana, who works at the Braga Local Health Unit, heard the requests and wanted to donate blood for the first time.

“We were having a coffee chat, our boss spoke up and emphasized the need for blood donation, and I said that I had never donated before and that I would like to do so. She took the opportunity to invite me to become part of this great family that is blood donors,” the professional told SIC.

But it wasn’t the only one. The drop in reserves happens every year around this time. And to prevent the situation from becoming critical, the appeals are repeated.

Aldara Braga, clinical director of the ULS of Braga, states that “there are some unforeseen circumstances that lead to donors being a little less frequent at this time of year ,” due to “infectious incidents.” Work-related issues can also impact donation, and therefore, “the appeal is always, always, always relevant.”

Thanks to the increased donations in recent days, reserves have already begun to improve, and the appeal is nationwide. This appeal has also come from the Portuguese Federation of Donors, which warns of some obstacles that continue to hinder the process.

“Many hospitals that collect blood today have a schedule that makes us very apprehensive, which is closing at three or four in the afternoon. And then we don’t have enough professionals to collect as many blood samples as are needed, which causes the blood supply to decrease,” says Alberto Mota. 

From the ground to the sky: International Hot Air Balloon Festival returns with colors and night time magic.

The event includes daytime flights near the Benavila dam in Avis, and the ‘Night Glow’ night time show in Ponte de Sor, transforming the region’s skies into a palette of vibrant colors.

These days, the Alentejo sky is filled with balloons. The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is taking place in that region until the 13th.

Everything was ready for another day of the festival. It dawned gray, but with safety conditions that allowed for flying, and that increased the anticipation and anxiety.

Still on the ground, next to the Benavila dam in Avis, the colours of the balloon tarpaulins painted the banks of the reservoir. There are 33 pilots of six different nationalities: some come for a mission, others for the scenery, but all for the passion of flying.

The palette of colours invaded the skies of Alentejo, and the anxiety of before gave way to a calm that, during the flight, is only interrupted by the flares.

And the images did not disappoint. Despite the grey weather, once up here it’s desirable to land, and if it’s done with some subtlety, all the better.

The thing is, this ballooning business isn’t exactly an exact science, except in the construction. Many of the balloons that have flown at the festival are manufactured in Madrid, in the only factory on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the few in Europe.

At night, the magic happens again in the skies of Alentejo, this time in Ponte de Sor, with the Night Glow show.

The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is in the air until the 13th. You can check the program on the organization’s website or try your luck and look up at the sky.