Month: July 2019

Since 15^th July the amount of burned area has increased from 10,178 hectares this year to 22,887 hectares (as at 26^th July)

According to ICNF in their latest report some 51% of the forest fires that have ignited from 1^st January to 15^th July and investigated came from the burning of piles of debris and extensive burnings according to the ICNF.

This year’s second ICNF Interim Rural Fire Report, indicates that as of that date, 70% of the total number of fires causing 89% of the total area burned have been investigated. .

Of these the investigation  a cause was found in 69% of incidents,  causing 77% of the area burned by July 15.

The same document highlights that the most frequent causes are burning of forest or agricultural surplus (25%) and arson – attributable (19%). Some 10% of fires were from re-ignitions.

The provisional report of rural fires does not include the fires of the last days, namely those that reached the municipalities of Vila de Rei and Mação.

This report indicates that between January 1 and July 15 there were 5,570 rural fires resulting in 10,178 hectares (ha) of burned area, including forest (4205 ha), bush (4068 ha) and agriculture (1905 ha)..

As at 27^th July,  55% of which concern the area burned in forest stands, 33% in bush land and 12% in agricultural land.

The ICNF report notes that up to July 15 this year there were 30% fewer rural fires and 53% less burned area than the annual average over the last ten years.

The ICNF indicates that the largest number of fires, up to July 15, occurred in the districts of Porto (895), Braga (474) and Lisboa (431).

In turn, the most affected district, with regard to the burned area, was Beja with 1,832 hectares, about 18% of the total area burned to date, followed by Braga with 1,260 hectares (12% of the total) and Vila Real. 1,120 hectares (11% of the total).

It has reported at 1320 hrs afternoon 27^th July that a man suffered a paragliding accident this afternoon in Porto da Cruz.

According to reports the paragliding parachute did not open and the victim eventually fell near a beach near Penha D’Águia.

Municipal firefighters of Machico were mobilized, but at this moment they have not yet managed to reach the victim.

The emergency response team were called out, but could not reach the man either, as he had fallen into an area that was ​​difficult to access.

However the newspaper confirmed shortly afterwards that a man of American nationality had passed away this afternoon.

They confirm that the parachute did not open. So far, there is no more information about this occurrence. Machico Municipal Firefighters mobilized a team of eight members to the scene.

Lisbon, 27 July 2019 (Lusa) – Home Affairs Minister Eduardo Cabrita today ordered an urgent inquiry into the hiring of fire-fighting material following news about smoke-resistant collars with flammable material distributed under the “Safe villages – Safe People Scheme”.

In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Internal Affairs says that, “in light of the published news about contractual aspects regarding awareness-raising material, the Minister of Internal Affairs requested clarification from the ANEPC and determined to open an inquiry.

The Jornal de Notícias reported on Friday that 70,000 smoke-free collars made of flammable and uncarbonised material, which cost 125,000 euros, were handed over by civil protection under the “Safe Village” and “Safe People” programs.

The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) then said that the materials distributed under the programs are not firefighting or personal protection, but awareness of good practice.

Asked by journalists in the Minister considered the news “irresponsible and alarmist” and underlined the importance of the program that is under way in more than 1,600 villages in the country, ensuring that the distribution of smoke-free collars does not undermine or neither the project nor the safety of the people.

Still in the statement released today, the Ministry of Internal Administration stated “It is reaffirmed that these materials are for information and sensitization on how the population should act in case of fire and evacuation and not firefighting”, says the ministry.

In the case of smoke collars, he explains that the objective is to “make the population aware of the importance of adopting a duct to protect exposed surfaces of the body (face and neck) and protect the respiratory tract in the event of a fire.”.

Among the materials produced are Implementation Support Guide, Evacuation Plan Signalling Kits and Self-Protection Kits to sensitize the population to preventive behaviours.

The programs, according to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, are being carried out in more than 1,900 settlements, involving parish councils and town councils and more than 1,500 local security officers.

The following statement was issued today concerning news in the media that the Facemasks issued by the ANEPC to those in high risk areas, were infammable.

“NOTE TO SOCIAL COMMUNICATION

Clarification

Following the news published today by the Jornal de Notícias, entitled “Material delivered to villages to escape the fires is flammable”, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority clarifies:

The materials distributed under the “SAFE VILLAGE” and “SAFE PEOPLE” Programs are not fire- fighting materials or personal protective equipment.

The “Safe Village” and “Safe People” Programs derive from Council of Ministers Resolution 157-A / 2017 of 27 October is aimed to empower people to enhance the security of people and goods by the adoption of self-protection measures and simulations to the evacuation plans of the localities.

This is the first major national campaign aimed at self-protection of the population against the risk of rural fire and awareness of good practices to be adopted in this area.

To this end, as part of the national awareness-raising campaign for the prevention of risk behaviour and the adoption of self-protection measures, various awareness-raising materials were produced and distributed, including the Program Implementation Guide, the Multilingual Awareness Leaflets, the identification markings of evacuation itineraries and places of shelter or refuge and emergency kits.

It should be stressed that these materials do not assume the characteristics of personal protective equipment, much less fire-fighting. It is rather information and awareness-raising material on how populations should act in the event of a fire, increasing the resilience of the population to the risk of rural fire.

Bearing in mind the responsibility of all citizens in the prevention of rural fires, it is important to strengthen the involvement of the whole community in the implementation of the “SAFE VILLAGE” and “SAFE PEOPLE” programs which, while prevention and pedagogical mechanisms have been shown to be extremely relevant instruments. of rural fires. It is therefore important that everyone, without exception, continue to fight for its dissemination and implementation

 

ARTICLE IN THE OBSERVER

“Civil Protection distributed 70,000 flammable collars in risky villages. Supplier proposed fire resistant material, but ANPC found it expensive. He says collars are for “awareness” and won’t collect them

Civil Protection has distributed over 70,000 flammable face and neck smoke protection collars to populations that can be hazardous if used in a fire scenario. The turtlenecks – which were supposed to be a protective mask in a fire scenario – are 100% polyester and have been distributed since summer 2018 in various villages in risk zones under the Safe Village and People programs. Safe ”. The collar supplier himself told the Observer that he proposed that the masks be made of flame-resistant material , but the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC) declined  to be more expensive, and claimed that the collars were distributed in a logic of ” merchandising” and ” advertising “. The ANPC tells the Observer that the collars are for the purpose of “ sensitizing ” the program only.

There are now 70,000 collars distributed to populations in risk zones that not only do not protect – although they have been distributed as such by the authorities – but also increase the risk to those who wear them. If the popular wear these masks in an extreme setting, a spark may be enough to get your face burning in seconds.

ANPC, through an official source, justified to the Observer that under the “Safe Village” program several “awareness material” were produced and distributed, such as the program implementation guide, the multilingual awareness leaflets, the identifying signs of shelter or shelter, emergency kits and collars, thus serving as a stimulus for local implementation of the programs.

Although the collars were presented to the population as part of a fire protection kit, ANEPC denies that they have this function or that people wear the collars in the event of a fire. “It should be noted that these materials do not assume the characteristics of personal protective equipment , nor are they intended to provide increased protection in the event of response to rural fires, but are made of sensitization material . “ ANPC wrote in response to the Observer.

The Observer asked ANEPC whether they would collect the flammable collars – so that the population would not be at increased risk – but could not answer that particular question. ANEPC chose to point out that this action “is the first major national campaign aimed at self-protection of the population against the risk of rural fire, as well as awareness of good practices to be adopted in this area”.

Asked by the Observer as to why he had not made the collars in a material other than polyester, the owner of Fox Trot (a sole proprietorship), Ricardo Fernandes, explained that this was not his initial proposal. “We proposed a fireproof material to be fire resistant, but they didn’t want to because it was more expensive,” he explained. And he added: ” The non-flammable treatment would be a much higher value, at least more than twice the value .”

As for polyester, the owner of the company admits that “the collars as they were made are flammable, but we were told it was more for advertising, for merchandising , not for people to use in an extreme situation.”

 

UPDATE 1100 hrs 21st JULY

 

Previous update 2200 hrs 20th July

“Stopping the fire is impossible at this stage,” the Vice President of Vila de Rei, Paulo César told Lusa in a statement at 19:45.

António Louro ANEPC said that this is a front of fire of 8 kms, entered the municipality of Mação (Santarém district) in the zone of Azinhal, Cardigos and Vinha Velha.

Although the flames had “passed” through several villages, putting them “in danger”, Paulo César said he had no news of injuries or material damage (confirmed by ANEPC in discussion with Safe Communities Portugal).

According to the vice president, the “very strong” wind has been “the biggest adversary” of the field of operations, with the flames evolving in a pine and eucalyptus forest area.

By mid-afternoon, when the Bostelim river beach was evacuated, there were 160 people in the area, according to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.

The Armed Forces will send four track machines and 20 military personnel to support Civil Protection in the fight against the fires in the district of Castelo Branco

A fire at Serta Mosteiro de Sao Tago which started at 1615 hrs has has also been upgraded to a Major Incident due to its close proximity. At 2200 hrs 95 fire personnel and 28 vehicles were dealing with this fire bringing the total of 884 personnel and 273 vehicles fighting the 3 fires. All aircraft/helicopters have been withdrawn overnight.

ORIGINAL REPORT 2030 hrs

At present there are four active fires in Castelo Branco District. Two of these have been classified as “Significant Events” by the ANEPC.

One of these is at Fundada, is currently being fought by 374 fire fighters, 114 vehicles supported by 4 aircraft. The fire started in a mixed bush/forest area at 1450 hrs.

The EN 2 has been cut between Vila de Rei and Fundada. Reinforcements have been deployed from Portalegre, Santerem, Steubal and Lisbon.

The river beach of Bostelim, in Vila de Rei, Castelo Branco district, was evacuated as a precaution, according to Lusa. The deputy mayor of the Municipality of Vila de Rei, Paulo César, explained that the fact that several campers used this place could create a situation of panic in the possible need for more intensive operations in that place.

The fire of Vila de Rei, according to Paulo César, has two active fronts, one of which is progressing towards one of the Sertã fires.

The second major fires is at Serta, (the area much affected by fires in 2017). A total of 247 firefighters 71 vehicles and 5 aircraft are currently deployed.

In the fires four fire fighters have been injured as a result of a road accident..

 

The areas where the two fires broke out are relatively close to each other, since the village of Rolã, in the municipality of Sertã, is about six kilometers straight from Fundada, in Vila de Rei, a municipality located to the south and next to the Sertã.

 

On Sunday, July 21, at 10:00 a.m., the National Republican Guard (GNR) is holding a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Presidential Squad, an event that will be in the presence of His Excellency the President of the Republic.

The photos show here are from the rehearsal that took place yesterday 19^th July

In addition to the Solemn Render, which normally takes place on the 3rd Sunday of each month, at 11:00 p.m., the program of the ceremony will also include a historic parade of the Security and State Honours Unit, as well as a demonstration of the Reprise of GNR, followed by Charanga a Cavalo, in Jardim Vasco da Gama.

If you are in Lisbon on this day this will be something worth watching with around 100 mounted horses participating.

In May 2019, the Presidential Squadron celebrated 20 years of existence as an autonomous sub-unit, with its own force. This sub-unit of the GNR is inherited from the mission of security and honorary mission that was carried out by the Royal Police of the Police at that time and that later has been carried out by the National Republican Guard, over more than a century, with the Portuguese Head of State.

The media are invited to be present at the ceremony, and must appear in front of the National Palace of Belém until 10 o’clock.

The Judiciary Police, through the Center’s Board of Directors, in close collaboration and cooperation with the National Police Corps of Spain, identified the suspected perpetrators of two counts of attempted murder of two GNR Transit personnel of GNR Coimbra, that occurred on 15^th June, in the Cernache – Coimbra area.

On 28^th June resulting from international police cooperation, the suspect was found, questioned and detained in the city of Seville by members of the Homicide Investigation Brigade of Seville, of the National Police Corps of Spain

The Judiciary Police, in liaison with its counterparts, deployed a team from the Centre’s Board of Directors to Seville, in order to provide support and carry out various investigations.

From the evidentiary procedures carried out, it resulted in the seizure of relevant evidence in relation to the crimes in question.

The Portuguese judicial authorities have initiated legal proceedings, in particular the issuance of a European Arrest Warrant, in view of the extradition of the suspect to our country.

The suspect, 42 years old, is a Portuguese citizen and has criminal records related to particularly violent crime, both in Portugal and in Spain.

The Judiciary Police, through the Department of Criminal Investigation of Funchal, with the collaboration of other units of the PJ, as part of an investigation conducted by the DIAP of Funchal, today conducted Operation “Pegasus”. This involved investigations for crimes of qualified fraud, forgery, tax fraud and money laundering.

The operation consisted of a number of domiciliary and non-domiciliary searches in Funchal, and a large number of evidentiary material were seized, including accounting documentation, devices and computer data, as well as cash.

Two individuals, responsible for a travel agency, were arrested, suspected of having falsely received documents and fictitious billing, and were able to receive improper travel reimbursements under the social mobility allowance in force in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This caused losses to the public treasury, amounting to several hundred thousand euros.

This value, provisionally fixed by the investigation so far, following the evidence collected, will increase substantially.

During this operation, three more official suspected were made, suspected of involvement in this criminal activity.

The detainees, aged 46 and 28, will be present at the first judicial interrogation to apply the coercion measures considered appropriate.

Criminal Court of Lisbon sentenced Abdesselam Tazi for crimes of recruitment and financing for terrorism. “I hope your god forgives you, because the court does not forgive you,” said the judge at the end of the sentence reading

Two years after being extradited from Germany to Portugal, Abdesselam Tazi was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for crimes of recruitment (three years) and financing (eight years) for terrorism, fake passport (one year) and credit card (five years). He was acquitted of crimes of membership of an international terrorist organization (the Islamic State), falsification of a document with a view to terrorism and use of a false document to finance terrorism.

At the end of the reading of the judgement, the judge was hard on the defendant of Moroccan origin: “I hope your god forgives you,” repeated the magistrate, “because the court does not forgive you.” This is the first conviction in Portugal for crimes linked to jihadist terrorism.

The presiding judge, Francisco Henriques, began reading the sentence to enumerate the facts that he considered proven and not proven. Of the most important crimes – related to terrorism – the first conclusion of the judge was that it has not been proven that Abdesselam Tazi has joined the Islamic State. “The direct link was not proven although there was evidence of a link between the accused and the Syrian organization, but there are doubts and as such he is acquitted,” he explained.

On recruitment, the court “had no doubt that the defendant was at the basis of the rectification of Hicham El Hanafi” and that “he tried to recruit three other Moroccan youths.” in relation to the financing, the judge found that the crime was not intended to “commit acts of terrorism but with the intention of proceeding with the reinstatement that was proven.”

Before closing the hearing, Judge Francisco Henriques addressed Abdesselam Tazi stating: “I know that you are a religious man, and so am I. I hope your god forgives you. Europe, taking advantage of the weaknesses of the system for what? To convince some kids to their convictions. He then asked: “How did a person so conservative practice these crimes, lived on the money of others? How did a person with his convictions live this way? On the one hand was rigid with the behaviour of women and then, with more things serious, did not mind defrauding people with credit cards to convince young people to go to Syria.”

The Moroccan still tried to claim innocence and repeat that he was the victim of revenge. But the judge did not allow him to continue. “Yes, yes, that will be seen later. It remains in pre-trial detention until this decision is final,” he said before concluding. “I hope your god forgives you,” repeated the magistrate, “because the court does not forgive you.”

Already the defence lawyer of Abdesselam Tazi, Lopes Guerreiro, was very surprised by the decision, “taking into account the evidence produced in judgment.” “He absolves himself from membership in the Islamic state, how is he convicted of retrenchment of three individuals? Recruiter for whom?” He questioned before moving forward that he will read the decision carefully and then appeal.

The European Union regretted that it failed to provide any support to Portugal against the fires of October 2017, when Lisbon appealed desperately for help.

“One of the most painful situations in my life was to have no response to Portugal,” the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Crisis Management and Civil Protection, Christos Stylianides, told Portuguese journalists this Monday (8th July 2019) in Madrid, who described those “difficult times” between October 15 and 17, 2017, which killed 50 people and burned more than 50,000 hectares.

It is noteworthy that Portugal launched an appeal to Brussels on Sunday, October 15, for air support to the various fires in the centre and north of the country, but only on Wednesday, October 18, the first aircraft arrived.

The Cypriot commissioner said that he had telephoned each of the leaders with the protection of the Civil Protection of the countries of the European Union, but that some responded that they needed their resources in their own countries and that others admitted they had not mobilised them at that time. “My anguish at the responses of the other ministers, saying they had no air assets …,” he lamented.

Also in Madrid, where he explained the partnership of the Emergency Response Coordination Center (CEMR) with the Spanish authorities, Johannes Luchner, Director of the Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Office of the European Union (DG ECHO), – the congener European Commission of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) – assumed that “in 2017 we did not have enough means”. “I was not going to forget it,” he said.

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission (EC), lamented at the time the lack of solidarity with Portugal when it learned of the denials received by the then Minister of Internal Affairs, Constança Urbano de Sousa.

In a debate on the European Council in Strasbourg a week later, Juncker turned away from the main subject to address the Portuguese tragedy: “It is not normal that when a fire is declared on a Sunday morning in Portugal, we have to wait until Wednesday “We have to speed up the process.”

“It is obvious, necessary and basic that the European Union should come to the aid of those who are suffering. That is why I have commissioned Commissioner Stylianides to reflect, within a month, and in any case until the end of the year, on the in a new articulation of our civil protection mechanisms that are not working at a hundred percent, “he said.

By October 2017, Portugal had already dispensed part of its aerial fire-fighting facilities, some of them having terminated the contracts, others because the fires occurred when the device was no longer at a level that allegedly justified having aircraft ready.

The RescuEU system gained momentum not only with the fires in Portugal during 2017 but also with those that occurred in Greece in 2018, where 102 people died

The EU subsequently strengthened its response capacities through the following measures:

• Establish, in collaboration with Member States, a common European reserve of capacities to respond to disasters. Such capacities would include firefighting planes, as well as other means to respond to situations such as medical emergencies or chemical biological radiological and nuclear incidents;
• Co-finance the operational costs of rescEU capacities when used for the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism operations;
• Co-finance the development of rescEU capacities;
• Increase financial support for capacities registered in the European Civil Protection Pool, including for adaptation, repair, operational costs (inside the EU) and transport costs (outside the EU).