Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 30^th April 2025

Disruption of the National Electricity Grid – Special

Good morning. Power has now returned to the Iberian Peninsula after a huge outage on Monday brought most of Spain and Portugal to a standstill, grounding planes, halting public transport, and forcing hospitals to suspend routine operations in some cases. Some households were with electricity for more than 12 hours.

In Spain, the state of emergency has been lifted in all regions where it was put in place by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez the night before, except in Valencia, where authorities have requested it to remain in effect until further notice.

There has been speculation as to the cause, with social media users have pinned responsibility on a cyberattack by Russia, Morocco, North Korea or a terrorist organisation – however there is no evidence to support these claims. Both the Portuguese and Spanish Governments stating that there was no evidence it suggest it was a cyberattack.

Several media outlets – including Reuters, CNN and the Guardian – reported on Monday that Portugal’s grid operator, Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), had said in a statement that a “rare atmospheric phenomenon,” namely extreme temperature variations in Spain’s interior, was to blame for the massive outage. These reports have since been rectified, with a REN spokesperson saying on Tuesday that the company had “never put out this statement.”

The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that: a strong oscillation, in technical terms, in the European electrical system triggered the interruption of supply throughout the Iberian Peninsula and some areas of southern France”. “At 12:33 /Spanish timer), and for five seconds, 15 gigawatts of energy suddenly disappeared from the system. It is something that has never happened before,” said the Spanish prime minister. “Fifteen gigawatts is equivalent to approximately 60% of Spain consumption at that time.” Pedro Sánchez has asked Brussels to deliver an “independent report” about yesterday’s blackout.

Portugal’s Prime Minister also announced yesterday that the Government will create an independent technical commission and request a European audit to assess the electrical systems of the countries affected by Monday’s blackout. He added that “We will spare no effort in providing clarifications regarding a serious problem that did not originate in Portugal,” he stated.

Being prepared for emergencies, accidents or catastrophes – which always come without warning – must be a rule for everyone. Readers may recall that in March this year Brussels asks EU citizens to put together a 72-hour emergency kit to face crises, which should include food, water, and copies of important identity documents, a portable radio, a flashlight, spare batteries, chargers, among other items. The EU wants every member state to develop a 72-hour survival kit for citizens to face any new crisis that might emerge as part of its Preparedness Union Strategy

After a day of blackouts and, in many cases, without communications, this should trigger a review of the effectiveness of communications in times of crisis, where there serious constraints or non-operation of social media. Similar to the sci-fi film “Independence Day” (made in 1996) where in the end “Morse code” was the how communication was achieved after the global internet system collapsed as a result of an alien attack, in this case it was those members of the public using simple battery operated radios who had access to most information.

We have been promoting the use of emergency kits, including battery operated radios for some years – perhaps now (after the event) this will gain some traction. Let’s hope so!

We were fortunate that this occurred on the day of the national rail strike when trains were not running. In Spain some 35,000 passengers had to be rescued from trains which had stopped due to electricity failure over the entire rail network. The second fortunate matter was that there were no major incidents that day, such as rural fires. Lack of the availability of the ANEPC occurrence platform, and no social media would have made communicating alerts and information very difficult in such circumstances – not to mention adding to the pressures on the emergency services.

We are glad therefore that the Prime Minister has welcomed the Government’s decision to “prioritize communication via radio and television”, admitting, however, that things could have worked better and that there is “always time to improve procedures”. A case of better late than never as this is an issue which is not new and one we at Safe Communities has raised several times with the authorities.

Lastly we thank the emergency services once again in having to deal with a sudden, unexpected and major crisis that involved, thousands of personnel which developed into a major operational and logistical operation co-ordinated under the umbrella of civil protection.

Our team at Safe Communities wishes you a safe week ahead

News

Luís Montenegro: “The country had a highly positive and strong response to serious, unprecedented and unexpected circumstances”

On Tuesday, one day after the blackout that left Portugal in the dark, the Prime Minister praised the country’s response to a situation that he described as “serious, unprecedented and unexpected”. He thanked the population for their civility and the work of professionals on the ground, clarifying that the Government will now request an independent European audit to determine the origin of the failure. In response to the criticism, he explained that the anomalies in SIRESP “are not new” and that, in the first few hours, Civil Protection was focused on responding to the “most critical areas”.

In a statement to the country made from São Bento, the Prime Minister thanked the Portuguese population this Tuesday for their “ability to help each other, civility and maturity” in facing yesterday’s blackout, a situation that he described as “serious, unprecedented and unexpected”.

He also thanked the work carried out by the professionals who spent the day in the field, highlighting that the country had “a highly positive and strong response” and that it showed that it was prepared to experience “good days but also less good days”.

In an assessment of the operation, Luís Montenegro assured that the country is now connected “normally” to the electricity grid, with all 6.4 million customers having energy. He also highlighted that the system is operating with national production and autonomously.

There are, however, specific constraints to be noted in the water supply, with rail and airport transport “in operation, recovering”, with Humberto Delgado airport being the one in “the most intense need for recovery”.

In terms of fuel, the supply is “normalized”. In Education, only 15 of the 809 groups had problems with reopening and Health services are “stabilized and functioning”.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that the restoration of power was faster in Portugal than in Spain, which even has the help of France and Morocco.

Portugal to request independent European audit

The Prime Minister also reported that it was decided in the Council of Ministers that Portugal will request the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators to carry out an independent European audit of the electrical systems of the affected countries, to “fully determine” the causes of the blackout – which so far remain unidentified.

Montenegro argued that “urgent responses” are needed and promised that the Portuguese Government will “spare no effort” in clarifying a “serious problem” which, he recalled, did not originate in Portugal.

Among the decisions of the Extraordinary Council of Ministers, it is worth highlighting the end of the declaration of energy crisis at 11:59 pm today and the creation of an independent technical commission that will evaluate the reaction and management mechanisms, the recovery of the electrical system and critical infrastructures.

This commission, explained Luís Montenegro, should be made up of seven individuals: an expert in energy, another in networks, another in communications systems, another in Civil Protection, another in Health, and three individuals appointed by the Assembly of the Republic.

The Council of Ministers also decided to extend, until tomorrow, all deadlines for fulfilling tax obligations that ended Monday.

Government wants ‘blackstart’ function in more power plants

The Prime Minister also indicated that the Ministry of the Environment is already working to extend the operation of the ‘blackstart’ mechanism at the Tapada do Outeiro plant until 2030 and to include this function in more plants, including Alqueva .

It should be remembered that the ‘blackstart’ system translates into the ability of a power plant to restart the production and distribution of energy after a total or partial failure, without depending on external energy.

Anomalies in SIRESP “are not new”

Luís Montenegro admitted that anomalies were recorded in SIRESP – Portugal’s Integrated Emergency and Security Network System, but that these difficulties “are not new” and that they are a cause for concern.

The Prime Minister promised to make a “very rigorous” assessment of what happened so that we can “overcome once and for all” the system’s communication constraints.

Regarding the actions of Civil Protection, he clarified that the SMS to the population was sent around 5:00 pm, but was only received after 8:00 pm, “which shows that communications were down”.

The Prime Minister therefore welcomed the Government’s decision to prioritize communication via radio and television, admitting, however, that things could have worked better and that there is “always time to improve procedures”.

When asked by journalists whether Civil Protection should not have communicated with the population earlier, Montenegro clarified that this authority was, in the first hours, “concentrated on the most critical areas”.

“It was necessary to ensure that hospitals continued to function – it was a question of defining priorities.”

Situation Report issued by the ANEPC – Disruption of the National Electricity Grid

Following the interruption of the national electricity grid, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) reports that the country’s electricity supply has been practically fully restored.

From the very beginning of the event, ANEPC activated the mechanisms provided for under the Integrated System of Protection and Relief Operations, ensuring coordination between the various civil protection agents, entities with a duty of cooperation and entities responsible for critical infrastructure, with the activation, at 1:30 p.m., of the National Operational Coordination Centre (CCON).

In this context, the following operational determinations were implemented within the scope of the CCON:

1. Meetings of the Operational Coordination Centers (CCO) at their various levels (regional and sub-regional);
2. Strengthening inter-institutional coordination with operators in the energy sector (electricity grid, fuels and gas grid), telecommunications, security forces, health services, transport services, water and wastewater supply services, among others;
3. Activation of operational coordination centers, enabling the civil protection system to ensure a prompt response to incidents, at various organizational levels – national, regional, sub-regional and municipal;
4. Support for hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care units and other essential institutions affected by the power outage, with the supply of fuel and generators;
5. Implementation of contingency plans to ensure the operation of priority equipment and systems, including emergency generators;
6. Identification, in conjunction with Social Security, of the most vulnerable population groups for intervention priorities;
7. Permanent monitoring of the situation, with regular updates through the official channels of ANEPC, Municipal Civil Protection and other entities; 8. Sending of preventive SMS to the population, from 5:15 p.m.;
8. Issuance at 7:30 p.m. of the Operational Technical Communication increasing the Special Alert Status to level orange to increase the operational response capacity to deal with the foreseeable increase in incidents during the night and early morning.

ANEPC continues to closely monitor the evolution of the situation, remaining in coordination with all competent entities.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 23^rd April 2025

Good afternoon everyone. We start this weekly news report with the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday 21^st April 2025 aged 88 years.

The wake for the Supreme Pontiff will take place between Wednesday and Friday, in St. Peter’s Basilica. The funeral will take place on Saturday 26^th April and in Portugal there will be 3 days of national mourning from 24^th to 26^th April.  The President of the Republic will travel to Rome, after the April 25 session of the Assembly of the Republic, to attend the Pope’s funeral, accompanied by the President of the Assembly of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic he said: “Pope Francis was, perhaps, the most courageous voice among the spiritual leaders of the last twelve years, in the defence of Human dignity, Peace, Justice, Freedom, Equality, Fraternity, dialogue between cultures and civilizations, preference for the disinherited of the peripheries, for the poorest, most fragile, suffering, sacrificed, excluded and exploited, rejected and forgotten, in this time of old and new masters, interests and selfishness, which combat the values ​​by which he has always been guided”.

“On behalf of all Portuguese people, believers and non-believers, whether in agreement or disagreement, I thank Francisco for the affection he has shown Portugal, but above all, for his presence alongside those who die as victims of the daily denial of Human Rights, of abuse and arrogance of all kinds, of forced migration and refuge, of the primacy of war and the unjust crushing of individuals, peoples and legitimate dreams for the future”.

We continue this week’s news with the publication of the legislation listing the priority areas for land cleaning i.e. fuel management. This year there are 988 parishes, a slight reduction from last year. The priority parishes for inspection comprise 34% of the total number, covering 2,871,924 ha [hectares] of total area (32% of the surface area of mainland Portugal) and encompassing 1,988,232 ha of forest areas (37% of its total area). The criteria adopted since 2022, which incorporate the components of current danger of rural fires and the value of ecosystems, were maintained.

Earlier legislation published on the 16^th April deferred the deadline for land cleaning until 31^st May. We recommend that those in rural areas monitor the fire risk closely, and not to leave it too early to clean land as a high fire a very high risk and above prohibits the use of mechanised garden equipment including strimmers and chain saws etc., in cleaning risk Cleaning conducted too early however means that vegetation can still grow. It’s a fine balance.

On the point of “cleaning”, it means exactly that. It does not mean that everything has to be “cleared” i.e. everything within a 50 metres radius and the use of terms such as is misleading. Basically clean (fuel management) is the REDUCTION of vegetable and woody materials to make it difficult for fire to spread vertically (from the herbaceous layer to the shrub layer and, in turn, to the crown) and horizontally (throughout the various layers). In short, it means cutting weeds, shrubs and pruning trees in some areas.

A complete guide to land cleaning, including the latest updates for 2025 can be found on our website page here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/find-information/fire-prevention-and-protection/land-cleaning-protection/

A report released a few days ago revealed that one-third of wildfires in the EU occurred in protected Natura 2000 areas, Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats. 2024 was the worst year for forest fires in Portugal since 2017, with 147 000 hectares of land affected. Critical fires occurred early in the wildfire season on the isle of Madeira. Then, around mid-September, a number of large fires broke out simultaneously on the mainland. Over 110 000 hectares burnt in just one week – around a quarter of the total area burnt in the EU in the 2024 season. We have to work hard to ensure that this year does not see a repetition of last year.

A reminder of yet another scam using the name of the Tax and Customs Authority (AT). They are aware that some taxpayers are receiving email and text messages supposedly from the AT, in which they are asked to click a link. These messages are fake and should be ignored and reported. AT address displayed in a browser is https://www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt or https://www.acesso.gov.pt (the “s” in the word “https” means that the connection between your computer and the Tax and Customs Authority – AT server is encrypted).  ANY different address is a scam.

To avoid becoming a victim of such scams: Be wary of links and files sent via email or text message; Confirm directly with the source through text messages or websites, any action or interaction is requested; If in doubt, do not reply to messages, click on links, or download or open files and importantly do not provide or disclose your credentials to access the Finance Portal.

Our team at Safe Communities with you all the best for the week ahead

News

Fight against corruption receives the largest number of 113 new PJ inspectors

Lisbon, 22 April 2025 (Lusa) – The National Anti-Corruption Unit (UNCC) of the Judicial Police (PJ) will receive the largest number of the 113 inspectors who took up their duties today, announced the institution’s national director, congratulating himself on the “generational renewal” underway.

According to Luís Neves, of the 113 individuals who completed the 46th Inspector Training Course at the beginning of April, 38 will be placed, during the experimental period, in the UNCC, 24 in the National Unit for Combating Cybercrime and Technological Crime, 19 in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Directorate, 17 in the National Counterterrorism Unit and 15 in the National Unit for Combating Drug Trafficking.

“The fight against corruption and economic and financial crime is the highest priority and concern and consequently the target of the largest investment that the Judiciary Police has ever made in this area, both in the recruitment of specialized human resources and in equipment and training”, stressed the national director of the PJ, when speaking today at the acceptance ceremony of the 113 inspectors, at the institution’s headquarters, in Lisbon.

Heading the PJ since June 2018, Luís Neves recalled that, when he took office, the institution had a total of 968 investigators, having today “largely surpassed the 2,000 barrier”.

The average age also dropped from almost 50 to close to 40.

“It is obvious that generational renewal is here, with the perfect crossover between the highly specialized knowledge that the PJ has and the valuable contribution that you all bring us through your academic training and your professional experience”, he highlighted, addressing the new inspectors.

Of the 113 who took up their duties today, 78 have a degree, 34 a master’s degree and one a doctorate, from 50 different courses, and 40% have previous experience in other criminal police bodies.

The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, who reminded the new inspectors that, in addition to investigating, their mission is to “honour democracy through a commitment to the truth and the uncompromising defence of legality.”

Thousands of residence cards issued by AIMA remain uncollected: 8 thousand documents with no specific destination

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) currently has around eight thousand residence cards issued that have not yet been collected by their holders, revealed the organization’s president, Pedro Portugal Gaspar. The situation represents a new challenge in the complex management of migration processes in Portugal, at a time when the service system is still trying to respond to the high volume of pending applications.

According to Pedro Gaspar, most of these documents did not reach their recipients for simple but recurring reasons: “There must be around 8,000 cards issued that have not been collected, at least in general or in general terms”, said the person in charge. The problem, he explained, is mainly related to the absence of the holders at the indicated addresses, which leads to the documents being returned to AIMA’s facilities.

Despite multiple attempts to contact the agency, many immigrants remain unaware that their cards are ready for collection. Speaking to Lusa, the president of AIMA assured that several efforts have been made to communicate the existence of the cards: “AIMA insists several times to communicate, but the cards continue to accumulate”.

These documents largely concern processes initiated under the old system of provisional residence permits. In total, around 440,000 people passed through the so-called “mission centres”, created to deal with the delays inherited from the former Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF). At the moment, AIMA is focused on assisting citizens from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), who are exchanging their old A4 paper permits for new plastic cards.

Where to collect cards and what to do

Immigrants who have been to mission centers and whose cards were returned are now being summoned by email to collect them in person. In Lisbon, the process takes place at the Mahatma Gandhi mission centre, while in Porto, the collection takes place at the Local Support Centre for Migrant Integration (CLAIN), upon presentation of a valid passport and after electronic notification.

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 16^th April 2025

Good morning everyone, We are receiving enquiries from people concerning whether or not the deadline for land cleaning will be extended, due to the extensive rains over the last few weeks.

However, at present the deadline for cleaning the lands in a band of 50 meters around the houses and 100 meters around the populated clusters, remains at April 30. It can of course change in which case you will be informed!

Land cleaning (fuel management) is the reduction of vegetable and woody materials to make it difficult for fire to spread vertically (from the herbaceous layer to the shrub layer and, in turn, to the crown) and horizontally (throughout the various layers). In short, it means cutting weeds, shrubs and trees in some areas.  When a fire reaches the areas where fuel management has been performed, it decreases in intensity. Homes and villages will be safer. Firefighters can intervene more effectively and safely in areas where fuel management has been performed. If you have not already done so it is important to start cleaning your land rather than risk being fined or worst still allowing a risk to your property.

Meanwhile the Minister of Internal Administration (MAI), Margarida Blasco, appealed on Monday, for people to clean their land and help prevent the spread of forest fires in the summer. She added that the next Special Device (operational plan) for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR) is being finalized and will be released on a date to be announced. “We are all doing everything we can to ensure that the police forces, firefighters, UEPS, mayors and citizens are prepared for any scenario” next summer, she assured.

One of our followers asked a question, which I guess is on many people’s minds, which is “why we’ve had one Atlantic storm after another hitting Portugal…also winds where I live in a central Algarve were predominantly from the South East all winter, instead of the North West?

The reason for this is that rising ocean temperatures and shifting wind conditions contribute to the growing frequency of powerful storms reaching European shores. Historical data and recent trends indicate that Europe will likely experience more storm remnants and extreme weather events in the future.

Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and the impacts of climate change here are clear. 2024 was the warmest year on record for Europe, with record temperatures in central, eastern and south eastern regions. Storms were often severe and flooding widespread, claiming at During the year, there was a striking east-west contrast in climate conditions, with extremely dry and often record-warm conditions in the east, and warm but wet conditions in the west.

Warmer temperatures affect cyclones through: Wind speeds: Warmer ocean waters allow cyclones to gain more energy, leading to stronger winds; Rainfall: Warmer atmospheres can hold more moisture, resulting in heavier rains; Storm surges: Rising sea levels due to climate change can lead to more dangerous storm surges and coastal flooding; Frequency: Climate change is increasing the frequency of very intense storms and Duration: Cyclones may retain their strength for longer, and move more slowly. If air temperatures continue to increase we are likely to experience this more in the future! Be prepared

In our News following this introduction, we outline the main findings of “The Study on Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug and other Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies 2024 (ECATD-CAD)”, released on Tuesday. This involved a sampling of 11,083 students, aged between 13 and 18, from 1,992 public schools across the country, and is the result of the application of the ESPAD questionnaire (European school survey project on alcohol and other Drugs). One of the findings was that girls drink, smoke and take more sedatives and painkillers than boys, who lead in the use of illicit substances, that points to “a clear downward trend” in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. The study also reveals that 7% of students have already consumed an illicit drug, with 6% having done so in the last year and 3% in the month prior to the survey.

Our team at Safe Communities Portugal wish you a Happy Easter

News

Four seriously injured in 231 accidents in the last 24 hours in the GNR’s Easter Operation

A total of 859 accidents were recorded, resulting in 74 minor injuries. The GNR checked a further 7,264 drivers (28,339 in total during the operation), and 44 were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

The GNR recorded 231 road accidents in the last 24 hours, resulting in four serious injuries and 74 minor injuries, the police force indicated this Tuesday in an update to the data from Operation Easter 2025, which has been running since Friday.

In an updated report covering four days of operation, the GNR reports that it recorded 859 accidents in total, 231 more than on Monday, resulting in four more serious injuries and 74 minor injuries.

There were no fatalities in Monday’s accidents, meaning the two previously recorded accidents remained the same.

Between Monday and this Tuesday, the GNR inspected a further 7,264 drivers (28,339 in total during the operation), and 44 were driving under the influence of alcohol.

In total, the GNR arrested 201 people for driving with a blood alcohol level equal to or greater than 1.2 g/l and 103 for driving without a legal license.

Of the 4,966 traffic offences detected, the GNR highlights 1,323 for speeding, 313 for excessive alcohol consumption and 138 for lack of or incorrect use of seat belts and/or child restraint systems (CRS).

There are 150 for improper use of a mobile phone while driving, 676 for lack of mandatory periodic inspection and 200 for lack of mandatory civil liability insurance.

Girls turn to alcohol, tobacco and sedatives more, but illicit drugs are used more by boys

The results of the study show that “the scenario is now less serious overall, with the highest risk behaviours being confined to a minority and being more sporadic than frequent.”

Girls drink, smoke and take more sedatives and painkillers than boys, who lead in the use of illicit substances, reveals a study that points to “a clear downward trend” in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

The Study on Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug and other Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies 2024 (ECATD-CAD), released this Tuesday, included a sample of 11,083 students, aged between 13 and 18, from 1,992 public schools across the country, and is the result of the application of the ESPAD questionnaire (European school survey project on alcohol and other Drugs).

The results show that ” the scenario is now less serious overall, with the highest risk behaviours being confined to a minority, being more sporadic than frequent”, highlights the study by the Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD).

However, there are phenomena that, compared to the previous study, carried out in 2019, have become more prevalent, such as the consumption of strong painkillers with the intention of getting “high”, electronic gambling and gambling.

Alcohol is the main psychoactive substance consumed among young people, followed by tobacco and, to an even lesser extent, illicit substances and certain psychoactive medications.

The majority of respondents (58%) had consumed at least one alcoholic drink in their lifetime, with 48% having drunk in the 12 months prior to the online survey.

Among the most consumed drinks in the last month, the highlights were ‘ alcopops ‘ (24%), beer (22%) and distilled beverages (22%).

29% have been slightly drunk in their lifetime, while 22% have done so in the last year and 11% in the last month. The prevalence of severe drunkenness is considerably lower: 19%, 15% and 6%, respectively.

On the other hand, 17% consumed alcoholic beverages in a ‘binge’ manner (five or more drinks on the same occasion) in the last month.

A quarter of young people have smoked at some point in their lives, 17% in the last year and 10% in the last month.

“Although very few respondents consume tobacco daily”, 22% adopt this consumption pattern in the case of traditional cigarettes and 12% in the case of electronic cigarettes.

Cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance

The study reveals that 7% of students have already consumed an illicit drug, with 6% having done so in the last year and 3% in the month prior to the survey.

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance, but the percentage of people who use it on a daily or almost daily basis is less than 1%. When considering only the group of current users, the percentage rises to 10%.

As for medications, the study indicates that 8% have taken sedatives at some point in their lives, on medical advice, and 3% have taken nootropics, while 5% and 2%, respectively, have taken them without a prescription. Another 3% say they have taken very strong painkillers to get high.

The survey concludes that, “in different time periods, the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, tranquilizers/sedatives and strong painkillers are more feminine than masculine practices, unlike illicit drugs”.

“If in the previous edition there was talk of a clear blurring of gender differences and a tendency for alcohol consumption to come closer together between the two sexes, in 2024 it is clear that this is already a more feminine than masculine practice and even with regard to increased risk behaviours it is possible to see an approximation or even a greater prevalence among girls”, he highlights.

Spikeless, the ‘straw’ capable of detecting drugs (in seconds) in drinks

Fewer students find it easy to access psychoactive substances

Regarding tobacco, the downward trend is increasingly pronounced and is due to “a very significant decrease” in the consumption of traditional cigarettes, particularly among young men.

The consumption of illicit drugs also became less prevalent compared to 2019, with a proportionally quite sharp decrease in the use of cannabis or other prohibited substances.

“Compared to the previous study, fewer students today start consuming at an early age (13 years or younger), with early initiation of alcohol and tobacco use having fallen significantly. In turn, considering the group of recent consumers, the start of consumption of electronic cigarettes and cannabis is now earlier than in 2019”, states the study.

There are also fewer students who consider it easy to access various psychoactive substances, with the decline being more pronounced in terms of traditional cigarettes and ‘alcopops’ (mixed alcoholic drinks with a relatively low alcohol content).

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 9^th April 2025

Good afternoon. Firstly we start with a warning from the Maritime authority that although we are experience sunny weather and temperatures approaching 30C in some coastal areas, at this time of year, we still have the winter sea, so there is a high risk due to the effects of the sea waves and currents. School holidays and mild weather” increase the number of people visiting the beaches, with the Maritime Authority recording 45 incidents involving 50 people and one disappearance. Remember there are no lifeguards at beaches at this time of the year, so take extra care especially with young children when visiting the beaches. Please visit our safe beaches page here for precautions to take. https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/find-information/for-tourists/water-and-beach-safety/

The presence of Portuguese men of war has been occasionally sighted in recent weeks along the coast of the Madeira archipelago as well as in the Algarve and Sintra coastlines. In one incident a large number of Portuguese men of war found on the sands of Prainha in Madeira.

Be aware that the venom of the Portuguese man of war is identical to that of the black widow spider, causing very strong pain and burns, which can be third degree, causing scars, which can be permanent. This living being does not swim, it is through its gas bladder (which can rise 15 cm above the surface of the water) that it floats and moves, being carried by the wind and sea currents. It can be distinguished by its colour, between bluish, pink or purple, with tentacles that can reach up to 50 meters.

The IPMA’s GelAvista program reminds us of the precautions to be taken in case of inadvertent contact with a Portuguese Man of War, such as cleaning the affected area thoroughly with sea water and removing any pieces of tentacles that may have remained stuck in the skin, using tweezers. Anyone who is affected can apply vinegar and hot compresses and avoid using alcohol and fresh water, warns the IPMA, warning that in the case of extensive burns, a health professional should be sought.

Air temperatures are increasing, but this is forecast by the IPMA to be accompanied by a new wave of dust from North Africa expected to start affecting mainland Portugal from later today. The atmospheric dust will become more noticeable especially on Thursday and Friday. Experts warn that several precautionary measures should be taken, especially if you have breathing problems. We will continue to monitor – although no IPMA forecasts have been issued yet!

The Directorate-General for Health issues the following recommendations in dust situations, namely: that the general population should limit outdoor physical activity and exposure to risk factors such as tobacco smoke and contact with irritating products; that, children, elderly, patients with chronic respiratory problems, namely asthma, and cardiovascular patients; in addition to complying with the recommendations for the general population, should, whenever feasible, remain inside buildings and, preferably, with the windows closed: – the chronically ill must maintain ongoing medical treatments. We are monitoring the situation.

On Tuesday the PSP announced that they had arrested 149 pickpockets last year, an increase of 43% compared to 2023, adding that in urban centers there were an average of 16 thefts per day using this method in 2024. Despite this good works pickpocketing incidents are on the rise particularly in tourist areas. It is therefore important to take simple precautions by:  carrying money and passport in separate places, so that losing one doesn’t mean losing the other as well; wearing bags in front of you, not at the rear or side. Deep-front trouser pockets offer more protection than back pockets.

Our team at Safe Communities wishes you a safe week ahead

News

Safety at beaches – Maritime Authority records 45 incidents and one disappearance

“School holidays and mild weather” increase the number of people visiting the beaches. The Maritime Authority records 45 incidents and one disappearance

Fifty people were involved in the 45 incidents. At TSF, Commander Ricardo Sá Granja warns of the normal sea agitation at this time of year and issues warnings to the population

Despite the “sea being winter”, the high temperatures felt this Tuesday, combined with the school holidays, led to an increase in the number of people visiting Portuguese beaches. This Tuesday alone, 45 incidents and one disappearance were recorded near Dragão Vermelho beach, on the Costa da Caparica, revealed the National Maritime Authority (AMN).

According to AMN, these 45 occurrences involved 50 people across the country

AMN reported that a 16-year-old boy disappeared late in the afternoon in Costa da Caparica, after having “got into difficulties in the water”, on Dragão Vermelho beach, with searches having already begun in the area.

In a statement issued late in the afternoon, AMN stated that at 6:00 pm an alert was received informing that three young people were “in difficulty in the water” and, immediately, “crew members of the Cascais Lifeguard Station were called to the scene”.

“Upon arrival at the scene, it was found that one of the young people had left the water under his own power, while the other had been rescued by lifeguards from the ‘Praia Protegida’ project, run by Almada City Council”, in the district of Setúbal, the note reads.

According to AMN, the rescued young man was unconscious and was assisted by lifeguards until the arrival of the Cacilhas Volunteer Firefighters, who transported him to a hospital.

“The third young man ended up disappearing at sea, and searches were immediately launched at the site,” adds AMN.

“It’s winter at sea, there’s a high risk”: here are the precautions to take

TSF spoke to AMN commander Ricardo Sá Granja about these incidents, who explained that the influx of people to the beaches is linked to the “school holidays and the mild weather”. Although sunbathing may be appetising, the commander warns: “At this time of year, we still have the winter sea, so there is a high risk due to the effects of the sea waves. (…) There are areas on the beaches that are not properly marked.”

To avoid misfortunes, the commander reinforces the warnings to the population and asks that they adopt “appropriate and responsible behavior, not putting themselves in risky situations”.

The AMN also advises not to go near the water or walk on wet sand, that children are supervised at all times, always keeping them close to an adult, that users do not turn their backs to the sea and always maintain a safe distance from the water line, to avoid being surprised by a wave

Number of immigrants in Portugal expected to reach 1.6 million

This is what an interim report, with data from AIMA indicates. The current numbers should be revised upwards after the processing of the regularization requests that were pending.

There were 1.6 million immigrants in Portugal at the end of last year, according to forecasts from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). The number was announced in an interim report on the recovery of pending cases and the foreign population in Portugal, released this Tuesday.

The body that replaced the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) points out that, at the end of 2024, Portugal had 1,546,521 immigrants. However, it warns that the number should be corrected upwards, to around 50 thousand more, when the regularization processes still to be processed are concluded.

“It is estimated that, with this review, the number of foreigners in Portugal in 2024 will be around 1,600,000”, indicates the report.

AIMA clarifies that these 50,000 foreign citizens “were already in national territory before June 3, 2024” – when the expression of interest regime ended.

From that date onwards, he states, “there was a 59% reduction in the flow of foreign citizens entering Portugal” with a view to obtaining a residence permit. The number of applications fell from 156,951 in the first half of 2024 to 64,848 in the second half.

The number of immigrants in Portugal is, according to this data, almost four times greater than it was seven years ago.

There were more immigrants than previously thought by 2023

The Mission Structure for the Recovery of Pending Processes at AIMA also corrects the data on the number of foreign citizens who were previously in Portugal. It claims that, in 2023, there were almost 250 thousand more immigrants in Portuguese territory than what was previously recorded.

After looking at the pending processes, he confirms that there were 1,293,463 immigrants – and not 1,044,606, as indicated in the Migration and Asylum Report for that year.