Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 19th July 2023.
The bad news is that southern Europe is in the grip of a major heat wave, but the good news is that at least at present it will not extend to Portugal.
Of course is little comfort to our friends and relatives, in countries that are suffering particularly in Italy, Greece and Spain for our friends.
A big difference in the fires we are currently encountering here in Portugal compared to the fires in some countries in south Europe, is that the fires in those countries are burning with far greater intensity, due to the extreme weather conditions. We can recall back to 2022 when here in Portugal we also encountered the heatwave which resulted in a series of large fires burning uncontrollably some last a week or so.
What has formed over most of southern Europe is a “heat dome” which in simple terms, the works like a lid on a pot. The extensive dome results in the trapping of a hot air mass at all levels underneath, sinking toward the ground. Air mass becomes particularly anomalous at the lowest elevations. Thus it creates very stable weather and often arid air mass with minimal chances for precipitation or even clouds—the sinking air parcels in the centre of the heat dome result in rising temperatures.
Typically, much warmer and drier than usual weather results in a significantly enhanced wildfire threat due to developing drought or even worsening the ongoing, pre-existing, arid conditions. Heat dome is often also to blame for being responsible for deadly heatwaves worldwide.
This is compounded by the fact that parts of southern are being affected by dust from the Sahara, which can affect the use of firefighting aircraft in the event of a fire. One can only imaging the dangers for aerial fire fighters faced with both smoke and dust when tackling wildfires at low levels.
Due to major fires in Greece EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activate at the countries request for addition aircraft which has been provided. The fires in the country look severe and this will likely have an adverse effect on tourism in those areas.
Monday was a challenging day in Portugal with over 65 fires, with three mobilizing over 700 operatives. At one stage in Castelo Branco 14 aircraft were deployed in fighting two fires, this being a large deployment (20%) of the total available in mainland Portugal. Commanders must be congratulated on the fast response action we have seen with a sizable number of resources deployed reach the theatre of operations (To0 within minutes.
Although of course it would be far better, if fires did not start in the first place, the fast response is often the deciding factor as to where or not a fire can be contained quickly or spreads to a situation where it becomes out of control with a perimeter that can extend many kilometres.
Thank fully the number of fires has not been that high so far. When it does and there are several fires in close proximity breaking out at similar times then the allocation of resources, especially aircraft becomes much more of a logistical challenge.
Related to this we are very pleased with the response to our new Facebook group with nearly 800 members so far. This is tackling the issues such as those above, by helping people be more aware and prepared in the event of natural disasters. We do encourage you to join as at some stage faced with a major fire for instance you will not have to study of what action to take – by that time it is far too late. We welcome you to join our new page here.
Our team wish you a happy and safe week ahead.
News
Portugal escapes the heat wave, but there are tropical nights in the Algarve
Forecasts point to the country registering values within the normal range for the season, at least in the next two weeks, points out IPMA meteorologist Bruno Café.
Portugal is passing by the heat wave that has affected Europe, with temperatures exceeding (by far) 40 degrees in countries like Spain, Greece and Italy.
The trend is that, at least in the next two weeks, the country will maintain values “within normal for the season or even a little below”, explains Bruno Café, meteorologist at the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere.
There is, however, an exception to the south, with “the Algarve region, particularly in the Sotavento Algarve, where temperatures are higher, even on tropical nights, with minimums above 20 degrees”, adds the specialist.
As for August, forecasts point to temperatures within what is considered normal for the season or just a little above it.
ASAE closes 11 local accommodations in Lisbon after operation against illegal immigration
Lisbon, 18 Jul 2023 (Lusa) – The Food and Economic Security Authority closed today 11 local accommodations in Lisbon and initiated six administrative offense proceedings, following the operation that dismantled a criminal organization of illegal immigration, operating in several European countries.
In a statement, the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) says that the main violations detected had to do with “lack of registration, lack of hygiene conditions, the presence of pests, lack of safety conditions and protection measures, violation of personal data and capture and recording of images without proper authorization, among others”.
ASAE refers that it was part of the joint global operation coordinated by EUROJUST (European Union agency for cooperation in criminal justice matters) and EUROPOL (European Union agency for police cooperation), to “dismantle a criminal association responsible for circulating in the Europe of illegal migrants”.
“As part of this operation, aimed at combating human trafficking and aiding illegal immigration, ASAE, through its Southern Regional Unit, today carried out the inspection of more than a dozen local accommodation located in the city of Lisbon, where more than a hundred immigrants were housed, some of whom are illegally staying in the national territory”, advances the ASAE.
As a result of today’s operation, ASAE determined the suspension of 11 local accommodations (AL) and initiated six administrative offense proceedings.
ASAE also mentions that it will continue to develop inspection actions “in favour of healthy and fair competition between economic operators, in safeguarding consumer safety and in verifying compliance with current regulations”.
Following this joint operation, the Judiciary Police, through the National Unit Against Terrorism, arrested on Monday six people in the Lisbon region, suspected of being part of a criminal organization that encourages illegal immigration, suspected of crimes of criminal association. , human trafficking, aiding illegal immigration and forgery of documents.
We really encourage everyone to become a member, as in Portugal we face many risks regarding in terms of more intense fires and unpredictable and extreme weather. If we can understand this better we can come to live with it, knowing we have done our best to be prepared.
The Judiciary Police carried out the arrest for alleged suspicions that the sub-manager “provided information of a banking nature to elements of a transnational network that has been dedicated to money laundering since, at least, the year 2019, receiving high monetary amounts in return”.
The average global air temperature recorded 2 metres above Earth’s surface was over 17°C (62.6°F) on 3 July, the highest that has ever been recorded. The temperature recorded 2 metres above Earth’s surface hit 17.01°C (62.62°F) on 3 July, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US and compiled by the University of Maine.
According to the person in charge of operations, Lieutenant-Colonel Adérito Rodrigues, contacted by SAPO24, there are at least ten detainees, involving suspicions of qualified tax fraud that could have harmed the State by several million euros, related to the collection and illegal sale of bivalves.
The Prime Minister referred that, if humanity manages to reach the targets set in the Paris Agreement – to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees until the end of the century -, the risk of forest fires in Portugal will, even so, increase six times.
On Monday, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) indicated that the cloud of smoke particles from the fires in Canada had been affecting the Azores islands since Sunday, and should then extend to the mainland.
The report, prepared by the Global Project against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), from the United States, identifies 13 “hate and extremist groups” in Portugal, including Chega and Ergue-te, but also neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements such as the ‘Portugal Hammerskins’ or the ‘Proud Boys Portugal’.