Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 1^st October 2025

Good afternoon. When reviewing our Facebook performance on this, our main page, we found that in the 28 days up to yesterday our posts during that period obtained a total 7,599,645 views. This represented a 149% growth on the previous 28 day period. Two of our highest views were both on 27^th September, one being the approach of Gabrielle which obtained 795,203 views and earlier in the day, when a post on the forecast of wind speed and precautions to take, obtained 564,377 views. This shows that our key messages concerning risk awareness and preparedness for hazards are reaching a high number of people, which is important in ensure people are aware and can plan accordingly. In can be life-saving in some situations!

After the passing of Gabrielle, you would be right in asking, will there be more of the same this year? The answer is most likely “yes”.

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, and will end on November 30. After a slow start, there has recently been back-to-back tropical cyclones expected to whip up the Atlantic Ocean and produce dangerous waves.

But it is not only waves that we should be concerned about. The second issue is how the close passing or a direct hit on the mainland would have if we were experiencing active wild fires at the time, as was the case in October 2017.

Gabrielle hit the Azores as a Hurricane Category 1, causing nearly 200 occurrences, but soon lost strength, eventually arriving on the mainland as a post tropical cyclone. By this time the wind speeds had decreased considerably, but still on 27^th September there was a wind gust of almost 100 km/h recorded.

A week earlier the fire in Aljezur was burning with intensity to the point where the fire commander stated “that it had reached a level at which it was out of control and beyond the capacity of resources, both on the ground and in the air to extinguish”. This begs the question what would have been the effect if the tropical cyclone had arrived a week earlier and had not lost its intensity! Read more about this in our feature in the Portugal Resident out tomorrow Thursday.

Once again Spain has been hardest hit by Gabrielle. Yesterday the Army UME emergencies unit has been activated in Ibiza due to a torrential rain storm Red level warnings in place. The Emergency Department sent an alert message via the EsAlert system to all mobile phones in Ibiza and Formentera, warning of the risk of flooding and urging the public to avoid travel and flood-prone areas, not to stay in basements and to go to upper floors in case of flooding.

AEMET maintains the red level warning in Ibiza and Formentera, where up to 200 millimetres of rain have accumulated in some areas. The storms, initially centred on Ibiza, have moved towards Formentera.

In an unprecedented operation in Galicia, Spain: police officers intercepted a large shipment of cocaine delivered to the coast by a narco-submarine. The operation resulted in the arrest of 14 people involved in unloading and further distribution of the drugs. The total weight of the seized cargo was approximately 3.5 tons.

The drugs landed on September 13, prompting a coastal chase. Officers intercepted one vehicle carrying cocaine bales. Local police found the remaining cargo the next morning. This is the first time such a seizure has taken place on land in Spain. Another example of excellent co-operation on this occasion by the Spanish police and the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

Our team wish you a nice week ahead.

News

Six deaths and more than 7,700 incidents of domestic violence in three months

In the second quarter of this year alone, six people died, comprising five women and one man, as victims of homicide in the context of domestic violence.

Six people died between April and June 2025, while the PSP and GNR recorded 7,713 incidents, 657 more than in the previous quarter, according to data released this Monday.

According to data from the Domestic Violence Portal, managed by the Commission for Equality and Citizenship (CIG), in the second quarter of this year, six people died, including five women and one man, as victims of homicide in the context of domestic violence.

In total, since the beginning of the year, 13 people have died as a result of domestic violence, the majority of whom (11) were women.

In the same period, PSP and GNR reported 7,713 incidents, a number 9.3% above the 7,056 complaints registered in the first quarter of this year, but 0.3% below the same period in 2024 .

Regarding support measures for victims of domestic violence, there were 5,939 people with tele assistance measures, 81 more than in the first quarter of 2025.

On the other hand, there were 1,401 people welcomed into the National Support Network for Victims of Domestic Violence (RNAVVD), including 733 women, 643 children and 25 men .

There was a need to transport victims in 231 situations, totalling 392 people, including 229 women, 160 children and two men.

In the second quarter of 2025, there were 1,461 inmates serving sentences for the crime of domestic violence, including 395 in preventive detention and 1,066 serving effective sentences.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 17 September 2025

Good afternoon. As far as the weather is concerned the summer is not yet over!

Since yesterday, the maximum temperatures have been increasing to levels that will be above normal for the time of year. According to IPMA maximum temperatures expected in the Alentejo will be between 35 and 39°C and in the interior North and Centre they will be between 34 and 37°C”. By Friday 70% of the mainland is forecast to be at very high and maximum fire risk! It is extremely important therefore that we do everything possible to avoid any action that may cause a fire, particularly in the use of garden/agricultural machinery.

The Prime Minister Luís Montenegro warned this Monday of the high risk of fires, taking into account the high temperatures, calling for an effort to prevent occurrences. He stated, “I want to warn the country not to let our guard down, so that in the coming weeks we can act responsibly and respectfully following the guidance that the competent authorities may issue”. “We still have before us the possibility of having, again, some adverse weather conditions and the collaboration of factors that could increase and elevate the level of risk” of fire, he warned.

This period of hot weather is expected to persist until Friday, with a sharp drop in temperatures expected over the weekend, according to the IPMA, to normal or slightly below normal values ​​for the time of year, with a possible drop of 8 to 10 degrees in the maximum temperature in some places.

Although there has been some rain in the north and south it has not been sufficient to dampen vegetation to a level that reduces the risk, particularly in the south, where there has been little or no rain for several weeks in some places. This means that when fires do start there is a high risk they can burn with intensity and spread quickly. Even when finally extinguished there is always the risk of  re-ignitions as we saw earlier this week in the Murça fire in Vila Real District, which reignited twice, once when the fire was in “Vigilance” stage.

The Judicial Police have dismantled a network that allegedly profited more than 15 million euros through online fraud, primarily targeting the elderly. The group sent victims links to fake websites that resulted in the theft of personal and banking information. A total of 64 people suspected of belonging to a transnational organized crime group were arrested this Tuesday. As part of Operation “Pivot,” which involved 400 inspectors, 73 house searches were conducted across various areas of the country, the police force announced in a statement.

The criminal scheme consisted of recruiting victims, all of Swedish nationality, generally over the age of 65, who, through various schemes, were convinced to provide access codes to their bank accounts, with the subsequent unauthorized transfer of funds to bank accounts in Portugal and other countries. Safe Communities Portugal gave advice on KissFm radio 14th September regarding on line fraud known as Phishing. This is on the rise in Europe and people need to be more aware of this.

We reported the tragic case this week of two Canadian citizens in Mesão Frio who died after being hit by a train. According to the GNR they were taking photos of an approaching train near a level crossing, when the accident occurred. The same day an 86-year-old woman and died after being hit by an Alfa Pendular train, for reasons still unclear. The accident, in the occurred at a level crossing in Ribeira de Santarém, which was reported as “in perfect working order.” This is an opportune time to remind everyone to follow the signs in place at railway lines, especially at pedestrian/road crossing points. Avoid selfies at dangerous places, and when crossing lines regardless of the signal, to always be on the lookout for approaching trains.

News

Prime Minister urges people not to let their guard down in face of high temperatures

The Prime Minister Luís Montenegro warned yesterday 15^th September of the high risk of fires, taking into account the high temperatures, calling for an effort to prevent occurrences.

The prime minister was speaking to reporters after a symbolic ceremony handing over aid to farmers affected by the fires that occurred a month ago, held at the Sernancelhe City Hall in the district of Viseu.

“Today, September 15th, I want to warn the country not to let our guard down, so that in the coming weeks we can act responsibly and respectfully” following the guidance that the competent authorities may issue, he warned.

“We still have before us the possibility of having, once again, some adverse weather conditions and the collaboration of factors that could increase and elevate the level of risk” of fire.

In this regard, he urged “everyone to make an effort” so that everyone can “be even more efficient in the future to prevent major fires like those that occurred in August.” During the ceremony, the Prime Minister had already issued the same warning, stating that “the current high temperatures are very hot again, and humidity is low,” which “still poses a risk” of fire.

Government authorizes video surveillance at Mafra National Palace

Given the high national value, a video surveillance system will be installed in areas close to the Mafra Palace due to the growing number of passers-by, such as tourists.

The installation and use of a video surveillance system in the area surrounding the Mafra National Palace has already been authorized by the Government, according to a dispatch published this Monday in the Official Gazette.

In the order, the Secretary of State for Internal Administration, Telmo Correia, authorizes the installation and operation of a video surveillance system, consisting of four cameras, “operated in such a way as to guarantee the effective safeguarding of privacy and security”.

The video surveillance system is expected to operate “24 hours a day, uninterruptedly” for three years, with the possibility of renewal upon authorization from the Government.

When questioned by Lusa, the Lisbon district municipality clarified that, “following the authorization granted, it is already operationalizing the launch of the acquisition process for the necessary technological solution, with a view to its entry into production,” without, however, providing dates.

In 2019, the City Council invested more than nine thousand euros in the acquisition of physical support infrastructure and cabling.

“Given the growing influx of passers-by, particularly tourists, in the area bordering the Mafra National Palace, and given that this is a heritage site of recognized historical and cultural value, it is considered that the installation of a video surveillance system contributes to greater security for people and property,” the municipality explained.

 

 

PORTUGAL SAFETY AND SECURITY REPORT WEDNESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2025

Good afternoon. Almost serving as a reminder that we are not yet out of the fire season, was the fire on Monday in Santo António De Monforte, Chaves in the north of Portugal which at one stage required the deployment of around 250 operatives and 11 aircraft. Actually which I say fire season, I mean the time of year when the fire risk is generally higher; although as we know there is a tendency for fires to start at any time of the year, especially during periods of heatwaves.

Portugal has just experienced its longest heatwave lasting 20 days. The effects of this allowed fires (over 95% caused by human hands) to develop and spread quickly, due to dryness of the vegetation, high temperatures and winds. The situation was exacerbated by the difficulty in accessing fire scenes by firefighters on the ground in some areas. Also on occasions due to the large amount of smoke, it was unsafe for firefighting aircraft to operate. The quick aerial response during the daytime was not available during the night time, when several fires broke out.

Studies show that the hot, dry, and windy conditions that fuelled the fires in Spain and Portugal are now about 40 times more frequent and about 30% more intense than they would be in a world without climate change.

The wildfires in Europe show that the current 1.3°C of warming is already incredibly dangerous. If we don’t move away from fossil fuels, which release large amounts of carbon dioxide more quickly, we could reach 3°C this century. Wildfires at this level would be catastrophic.

Read more about this in our Feature in the Portugal Resident out tomorrow 11^th September

Turning from land to sea. Four months into the 2025 Beach Season, the National Maritime Authority has recorded 1,007 rescues, 3,561 first aid operations, and 16 fatalities on Portuguese beaches between May 1st and August 31st. of the fatalities. This is a very large number and most are preventable if people simply followed the warnings that are in place. We ask people to take care and use beach where there are lifeguards.

Last week  we warned that whenever  there is heavy rain following rural fires, is the instability of slopes, increased by the removal of vegetation cover, or by artificial soil development, which also leads to the risk of mass movements (landslides, collapses and others), increased by water infiltration.  Locations that are downhill and downstream from burned areas are also in the following circumstances susceptible to flash flooding and debris lows, especially in and near steep terrain.

There was in face less rain than expected so it is important therefore that when we do finally get heavy rain to be on the lookout for slope instability. In particular be especially care when driving in roads where there are steep burned slopes.

Finally a reminder that the Judicial Police has created an official information hotline dedicated to officials and the families of the victims of the tragic Elevador da Glória accident: Phone: 211 968 000; E-mail chefepiquetelx@pj.pt For effective and agile performance of this service, it is requested that only family members, close friends and official entities use it.

We wish you a good week ahead

News

Almost half of Portuguese adults can only understand simple, short texts

You have to get almost to the end of the table published in the report “Education at a Glance 2025”, released this Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), to find Portugal

Four in 10 Portuguese people aged between 25 and 64 can only understand simple, short texts, according to a report released this Tuesday that shows Portugal among the countries with the lowest levels of literacy proficiency.

Second among 30 countries with the lowest level of literacy proficiency, 46% of Portuguese people aged between 25 and 64 have great difficulty interpreting texts and can only understand very short texts with minimal irrelevant information.

The conclusion comes from the survey of adult skills, conducted within the framework of the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)

With five proficiency levels, ranging from the ability to identify information in short texts (level 1) to the ability to synthesize and critically evaluate complex information (level 5), nearly half of Portuguese people scored at level 1 or below, a percentage much higher than the OECD average (27%).

Behind Portugal was only Chile, where 57% of respondents also did not go beyond level 1.

On the other hand, around a third of respondents in Portugal are able to integrate information from multiple sources, and 18% went a little further and demonstrated that they were able to interpret and evaluate complex texts.

At the highest levels (4 and 5) only 3% of Portuguese scored, the same percentage in Poland and Slovakia and lower only in Chile and Lithuania (both 2%), while the OECD average is 12%.

The analysis of these results within the scope of Education at a Glance 2025 also reveals that the level of education and skills are closely linked.

In Portugal, for example, adults with higher education demonstrated greater ease in understanding and analysing texts, achieving, on average, 36 points more than those with only secondary education and nearly 70 points more than those surveyed without completing the 12th grade.

Literacy proficiency levels are also related, on the other hand, to the commitment to training, with adults with better skills being more likely to participate in education or training.

According to the survey’s findings, by 2023, 80% of adults at literacy proficiency levels 4 or 5 had completed some formal or informal course or training in the last year, while only 22% of those at level 1 or below had done so.

The trial of the couple accused of triple homicide in Bragança has begun.

Nélida Guerreiro and Sidney Martins, who became known as the Portuguese Bonnie & Clyde, are facing charges of a triple homicide between parents and son, which occurred in the parish of Donai, near Bragança, in 2022. The pair had devised a scheme to steal drugs and valuables.

The trial of the couple accused of robbing and murdering a family began this Monday in Bragança, Bragança. The crime is particularly shocking and includes charges of setting fire to the victims’ homes in an attempt to cover their tracks and dispose of the bodies.

They became known as the Portuguese Bonnie & Clyde and are now serving nine-year prison sentences for robbery and kidnapping in several gas station robberies in the Algarve.

They are also the perpetrators of several armed robberies in Spain, where they were captured after having fled.

Nélida Guerreiro and Sidney Martins are responding to a new triple homicide case that occurred in the parish of Donai, near Bragança, in 2022.

The crime victimized a family—parents and son. According to the prosecution, the defendant had an apparent romantic relationship with the couple’s son, a 40-year-old man, who supplied her with drugs, even though she was living in a de facto relationship with the defendant, both of whom were drug users.

The duo devised a scheme to steal drugs, valuables, and money from the victim. This plan was attempted on July 9, 2022.

The crime

Taking advantage of the victim’s absence, the defendant entered his residence, but was surprised by his mother, who stabbed him 10 times, causing fatal injuries.

Ten days later, on the night of July 19, the defendant, intending to eliminate evidence of the previous crime and carry out the planned robbery, returned to the same residence. He went to the couple’s son’s room, where the defendant was already.

Together, the pair killed the man with 17 stab wounds. They then attacked the father, who had woken up to the noise, stabbing him 24 times, which were also fatal.

Then, in order to hide the evidence and dispose of the bodies, the defendants set fire to two rooms in the house.

For all these reasons, they are accused of murder, desecration of a corpse, theft, assault on physical integrity and arson.

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 3^rd September 2025

Good afternoon. The very tragic earthquake in Afghanistan in the news at present with over 1400 deaths, it is timely reminder that Portugal is also in an earthquake risk zone. It is important therefore that everyone is prepared and knows what action to take should a strong earthquake take place. Thankfully these are rare, but the impact can be high.

Although a Mag 6 earthquake in Portugal is unlikely to result in the same level of casualties and destruction as in Afghanistan, due to the fact that most modern buildings are built to earthquake standards, there are still many people living in older buildings that do not meet these standards. Also factors such as the timing of the earthquake, its location, and the depth of the earthquake are some of the factors that can determine the level of impact. Generally speaking earthquakes at night can result in higher casualties. It is important therefore to follow the posts we make on our Facebook concerning this topic as well as our website here: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/find-information/environment-and-weather/earthquake-tsunami/

The Council of Europe yesterday reported that the top positions in the Portuguese government and security forces are receiving little scrutiny in terms of corruption prevention measures. The report by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and the Council of Europe acknowledges that Portugal has made progress in adopting measures to prevent corruption, but believes that further action is needed. However as an example of progress is the introductory briefings and training sessions which have been organised for members of the new government, and confidential counselling is now available to all individuals with top executive functions, which is an important milestone. The report also welcomes the launch of an electronic platform for submitting declarations.

In a mid-term review of corruption prevention measures, GRECO concluded that Portugal has partially implemented 18 of the 28 recommendations made in the past by the Council of Europe. GRECO is a body of the Council of Europe that aims to improve its members’ ability to combat corruption. GRECO invites the Portuguese authorities to report on the progress achieved in implementing its recommendations by 30 September 2026.

With pickpocketing incidents rising by 12% in Portugal during 2024 (Portuguese Annual Internal Security Report), understanding effective prevention strategies has never been more critical for personal security. Portugal ranks 6th among European destinations for pickpocketing incidents (58 mentions per million visitors), trailing behind Italy’s staggering 478 per million. This positions us within a continent wide security challenge that demands coordinated prevention efforts (Source: European Pickpocketing Index, 2024). Although Portugal ranks highly in the Global Pace index there are some areas where pickpocketing is more prevalent especially at some tourist attracts particularly in Lisbon. It is wise therefore to take precautions.

Government is to review by the end of the year the structure of Civil Protection following the fires in August. It is felt however, that any changes to the Civil Protection system should only be made after the independent technical commission has produced its findings. There was much criticism among the public and even local authorities regarding the leadership in combating what was the largest fires ever recorded in Portugal. However, 93% of these fires were suppressed within 90 minutes, being the initial tack phase.

Apparently the government is even planning structural changes, but it is felt this should not come before the independent technical commission’s has presented its conclusions. For now, the priority is to analyse what went well and what didn’t during the fires, and if this means that there is a need for a structure change, this should follow in a separate review. Care is needed “not to put the cart before the horse”!

Our team at Safe Communities Portugal wishes you all a safe week ahead

News

Civil Protection wants to reorganize firefighting commands and advocates for additional firefighters

In an interview with Expresso, the president of Civil Protection suggests that it makes no sense for a country with 18 districts to have 29 fire-fighting commands divided into regions and sub-regions.

The head of Civil Protection wants to change the organization of firefighting commands. The Secretary of State for Civil Protection promises to make the change, but only after the fire season.

It was one of the most common criticisms heard during the recent fires: having someone outside the district in charge of the fires.

In an interview with Expresso, the president of Civil Protection suggests that it makes no sense for a country with 18 districts to have 29 fire-fighting commands divided into regions and sub-regions, and that he considers the argument that this helps to access community funds to be short-sighted.

José Manuel Moura participated in a meeting with mayors from the interior of the state this Friday morning, alongside the Secretary of State for Civil Protection. He heard the government representative assure him that the proposed amendment will be made by the end of the year.

“This is one of the topics that we will bring to the table after the device is passed, also with contributions from various stakeholders so that by the end of the year the Government can present its idea for amending the organic law,” says Rui Rocha, Secretary of State for Civil Protection.

In an interview with the weekly newspaper, the president of Civil Protection says that Portugal should have a special firefighting force with five times the number of personnel. The Secretary of State says this matter will also be discussed.

The ‘La Niña’ phenomenon could impact the climate again this month

The ‘La Niña’ phenomenon could once again impact climate and weather patterns from September onwards, estimates the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

By definition, ‘La Niña’ corresponds to the periodic cooling of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, associated with changes in tropical atmospheric circulation, including changes in wind, pressure and precipitation patterns.

Despite the temporary cooling influence of ‘La Niña’ from September onwards, temperatures are still expected to be above average across much of the world until November, the WMO estimates in a report released this Tuesday.

According to WMO forecasts, there is a 55% chance that sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific will cool to La Niña levels between September and November.

The probability will be slightly higher, around 60%, if the period between October and December is considered.

According to the WMO, natural climate events like La Niña are occurring “in the broader context of human-induced climate change, which is increasing global temperatures, exacerbating extreme weather, and affecting seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns.”

The World Meteorological Organization notes that the rainfall forecast “resembles conditions typically observed during a moderate La Niña.”