Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 13th July 2022
Good morning – over the last few days we have seen a major escalation in the risk of fires and the number of fires occurring.
At the time of writing the fires have mainly been in the centre of the country and the north. Over the weekend there were around 250 fires most of which ignited in the afternoon and early evening by 1320 hrs on Monday 11th July, only five remained active none being major fires.
The fires are being facilitated by very low relative humidity and high air temperatures and earlier in some areas the high winds, which have now returned.
A Situation of Contingency has been activated for the first time to deal with rural fires which includes a provision that anyone who refuses to comply with the restrictions imposed by the Government will incur the crime of disobedience. Be familiar with the measures.
Yesterday we entered a new phase of an already difficult situation, with a worsening of the metrological conditions, which will affect most of the mainland except for the northwest. Having monitored this sort of data since 2017, I am in no doubt we are experiencing conditions similar to that in 2017, when there were the catastrophic fires, firstly in Pedrógão Grande and later in the centre of the mainland. In fact all the major fires in 2003, 2017, the Monchique fire of 2018, and Castro Marim in 2021, were when the rural fire hazard was at maximum.
The relative humidity is extremely low in many areas and overnight particularly in Foia, Monchique was the lowest in the country on 10th July at just 6% at one stage. Looking ahead to the data over the period up to 15th July, Portugal maybe at an unprecedented situation in terms of extreme fire risk, certainly the highest for several decades.
This is borne out by André Fernandes Commander ANEPC who highlighted the “extreme weather conditions” in about 80% of the country and the “exceptional risk” of fires for the coming days, “values that have never been recorded”, warning of the need for all people to adopt appropriate behaviours not only of risk but of self-protection.
However, what has changed since 2017, is the preparedness of the emergency services which have evolved greatly using new technology and more resources in tackling these fires. A heavy use aircraft at an early stage, especially in areas where access is difficult is having good results. The early reporting of fires, quick response and bringing a fire to a conclusion in the initial attack phase i.e. within 90 mins is essential. In fact most fires are concluded with the hour. The longer a fire burns the greater the intensity becomes.
In the next few days the situation is almost certainly to be exacerbated according to IPMA data, with greater intensity if a fire gets hold to a point in some areas it becomes a severe fire and difficult to fight. This could lead to fires being active over a period of several days and depending on the wind spreading over large areas.
How can we prevent this?
Well 98% of fires are human error so there is much we can do. Most important is that we take every action to avoid starting a fire in the first place, “we have to be extra careful” and avoid for instance using power tools on the garden, not smoking in areas where this could burn vegetation. Look around your garden for any debris such as glass bottles that could cause a fire. Do not park a vehicle in long grass. Monitor the fire risk daily, ensure that you are aware of actions to take should a fire approach you in a fire, and for those in high risk areas, have an emergency kit close by in case of evacuations, calling 112 immediately if you discover a fire, are some of the steps.
If all this is followed we will avoid fires, keeping our communities safe and that of the emergency services who do fantastic work putting their lives at risk to help you.
Safe Communities Portugal is a Civil Protection Volunteer Organisation under Portuguese law and full details are on its website www.safecommunitiesportugal.com on how to prevent fires and actions to take should a fire approaches you, as well as our Facebook page.
News
Safety is above all”. Costa justifies the need to readjust events in the coming days
The prime minister said today that, for security reasons in view of the “extremely high risk” of fire, with the country in a contingency situation, the events next to forest areas scheduled for the coming days will have to be readjusted.
António Costa communicated this determination at the end of two meetings, totaling more than three hours, with the operational command and with several national entities responsible for preventing and fighting fires, at the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, in Carnaxide, municipality of Oeiras.
At risk of cancellation, rescheduling or relocation, with the country in a contingency situation in the coming days, are major events such as the Super Rock music festival in Sesimbra, which has since been relocated to Altice Arena, in Lisbon, or the Faro biker concentration.
“As is known, the weather forecasts will remain extremely serious, regarding the risk of fire”, being “absolutely fundamental not only that the entire civil protection system is fully mobilized, as it is, but above all that we all have the responsibility to avoid the risk of fire”, began by saying the prime minister.
After successive questions about the conditions for holding events near pine forest areas, such as the Supre Bock Super Rock music festival, or the Faro biker rally, the prime minister reacted: “I understand the interest these events arouse, but this is the smallest problem we are going to have in the country”.
“The big problem facing the country in the coming days is the very high risk of fire that covers practically the entire national territory. It certainly covers the entire territory from the Minho River to Lisbon, attenuating a little in the Alentejo, but not in the Algarve, where there are forecasts of very strong winds”, declared the leader of the executive.
“Safety is above all. This issue is not political, it is technical and responsible, it stems from the law at a time when the contingency situation is in force”, declared António Costa, with the ministers of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro, of Defense, Helena Careers, and Agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes.
It’s not just in Portugal: heat wave will cause records in several European countries
Temperatures will be around 7°C above average in the Iberian Peninsula, making it one of the three longest heat waves in the region’s history. On Monday, above-average seasonal temperatures are expected to hit central, southern and western Europe, forecasters warn.
The heat wave recorded in the Iberian Peninsula in recent days will affect northern Europe later this week and spread to the east, expected to set new records in several countries, European meteorologists announced this Tuesday.
The heat that has affected Portugal and Spain has raised temperatures 4 to 5 degrees above normal for the season, leading to maximums above 40ºC. During the rest of this week, the heat will likely increase further, to around 7°C above average, with maximum temperatures reaching 46-47°C in Seville, for example, according to experts quoted by the English newspaper The Guardian. .
According to Aemet, the Spanish meteorological agency, this heat wave can last nine or 10 days, making it one of the three longest heat waves the Iberian Peninsula has ever experienced.
As low pressures develop in eastern Europe, intense heat from the Iberian Peninsula will also affect France, the United Kingdom and much of central Europe.
According to experts, parts of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and even the Netherlands are expected to experience temperatures above 40°C from the middle of this week.
In the UK, the all-time temperature record is 38.7°C, set in Cambridge in July 2019.
Meanwhile, temperatures in parts of the central and eastern Mediterranean will also rise to around 10°C above normal, passing the 40°C mark across Italy and the Balkans.
On Monday of next week, above-average seasonal temperatures should be registered in central, southern and western Europe, with conditions of “widespread heat waves”, warn meteorologists, pointing the finger at the Azores and African anticyclone. .
Are you going to travel by train? CP warns of “strong disruption”
CP – Comboios de Portugal warned this Monday of “strong disturbances in the movement of trains in all services” and across the country on Tuesday and Thursday due to the strike of workers at Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP).
In a statement, the operator said that “due to a strike called by a trade union organization of IP-Infraestruturas de Portugal, strong disturbances are expected in the circulation of trains in all services, at the national level, on the 12th and 14th of July, 2022”.
According to CP, “minimum services are planned for both days, the list of which is available at cp.pt, and additional trains may be carried out”.
Therefore, “customers who have already purchased a ticket to travel on trains of the Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, Interregional and Regional services, will be allowed a refund, in the total amount of the ticket purchased, or its renewal free of charge, for another train of the same category and in the same class”, he indicated.
“Following the prior notice of strike presented by Aprofer – Association of Railway Command and Control Professionals, for the period between 00:00 and 24:00 on July 12th [Tuesday] and the period between between 00:00 and 24:00 on the 14th of July [Thursday], we inform you that there may be disturbances in rail traffic”, reads a notice made available this morning on the company’s website.
According to him, “in this period, Infraestruturas de Portugal will guarantee the opening of 30% of its rail channel for the Urbanos – Lisbon and Porto service and 25% for the remaining circulations, under the terms of the minimum services agreed with the aforementioned union association”.
In turn, Fertagus also warned on its website that, “in view of the strike announced at IP – Infraestruturas de Portugal between 00:00 and 24:00, on the 12th and 14th of July 2022, serious disturbances in the movement of Fertagus trains”.
To Lusa, the president of Aprofer, Adriano Filipe, explained that at the basis of the strike is the demand for a professional training system for the operational command centers, a specific evaluation and performance system for these functions and an update in the remunerations.
Yesterday it was reported that more than 2,000 police officers were involved in the security of the United Nations Ocean Conference, which took place last week in Lisbon, an operation that the secretary-general of the internal security system considered today “unprecedented” and “very complicated”.
According to the IPMA air temperatures will increase on the mainland starting from today. The forecasts are for temperatures of 35C to 40C but could be more in some places inland. Coastal areas will be a little cooler. IPMA warn that coupled with this the relative humidity will be low. Indeed yesterday the lowest was below 10%. With these extremes fires if they start may burn with great intensity and spread quickly. Our message is as always take considerable care in the countryside both against the heat and avoid any action that could cause a fire.
“[Drought] is a situation that we all have to worry about. Obviously, the Government, as responsible, has to be concerned, but concerned in the dimension in which we know and guarantee that there will be no shortage of water for human consumption. This is the note we have to leave: Portugal is now able to guarantee that there will be no shortage of water for human consumption, even if the conditions remain, and which, apparently, will get worse”, João Catarino told journalists.
According to the most recent data from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), released last Thursday, cases of Monkeypox in Portugal have exceeded 400, and cases have also been reported in Madeira.
The Portuguese coast presents, in some places of the coastal zone, a landscape that is characterized by its irregular nature resulting from erosion. The natural beauty sought after by users of these areas is, however, inseparable from the risk arising from the instability of the cliffs. On rocky coasts, there are cliffs that are permanently or periodically exposed to the action of the sea. This includes parts of the Algarve. It is important therefore that when you visit the beach to be on the lookout for these signs and keep well away from the foot of the cliffs concerned.
The “Ocean’s Promise”, launched at the Lisbon Ocean Conference, will be applied in support that until 2030 will focus on making the exploitation of fish stocks 100% sustainable, accelerating the end of the scourge of ocean pollution by plastics and allowing a hundreds of countries with a coastline fulfill the full potential of their blue economies, said a UNDP official.
According to the ANSR, accidents involving cyclists have resulted in 23 deaths in 2021 (130% more than in 2020), 138 seriously injured (plus 16%) and 2,511 minor injuries (plus 19.7%).
It is therefore essential more than ever that people know what to do should a fire break out, and approaches your home. Do you await the arrival of the firefighters, who may not be able to reach you quickly, or do you attempt to leave your home? In a major fire situation where the fire has intensified to a point it has become out of control, attempting to leave your home could have drastic if not fatal consequences, as was the case in the Pedrogão Grande fire. Knowing the level of protection that the construction of your house affords in case of rural fires, and having a plan and knowing what to do if such a situation should arise, is therefore in everyone’s interest, especially those living in high risk areas.
Finally – The arrival of hot weather and summer means that more time is spent outdoors. Whether at the beach, in the pool or even in the countryside, people are also much more exposed to the sun and, therefore, to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is with the aim of helping people stay safe and protected that the WHO have launched the SunSmart Global UV App, an application that serves to alert to the levels of UV radiation. The app is available free of charge, in six languages on both the Apple App and Google Play stores for Iphones and Androids. Very helpful especially when travelling to countries with high UV levels.
According to information gathered by JN, the fugitive, whom Portuguese and Brazilian authorities had seized 11.7 million euros in a van in Lisbon and almost forty planes in Brazil, was in Hungary with a forged Mexican passport.
“We have to get used to living with less water”, said Duarte Cordeiro, assuring that “the country has water for human consumption safeguarded for two years”. The communication followed another meeting of the Permanent Commission for the Prevention, Monitoring and Follow-up of the Effects of Drought (CPPMAES).