Year: 2019

A third of the forest fires recorded this year and investigated were caused by extensive burnings and burning of cut and piled debris, reveals the latest report from the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF).

The interim rural fire report for the period from 1 January to 15 October indicates that, to date, the most frequent causes in 2019 are “arson – attributable” (29%) and “burning of forest surplus together with burning of cut and piled debris which amount to 33% of the causes found.

The ICNF also states that re-ignitions of fires represent 10% of all causes found, lower than the average of the previous 10 years.

According to the agency, up to 15 October, 80% of rural fires were investigated, allowing the investigation to assign a cause to 65% of the fires.

The report notes that between January 1 and October 15, 2019, there were 10,841 rural fires resulting in 41,622 hectares (ha) of burned area, including forrest (21,163 ha), bush (15,782 ha) and agricultural area. (4,677 ha).

Data show that the number of fires and burned area in Portugal has declined this year for the second year in a row, the first time since 2009.

“Comparing the figures for 2019 with the history of the previous 10 years, it is noted that there were 46% fewer rural fires and 70% less burned area than the annual average of the period. The year 2019 presents, by October 15, the second smallest number of fires and the second smallest burnt area”.

ICNF also points out that September was the month with the highest number of rural fires (2,344), accounting for 22% of the total number recorded this year.

July was the month with the largest burned area this year, with 14,034 hectares (34% of this year’s total burned area).

According to the ICNF, 85% of the fires that started a burned area of ​​less than one hectare by October 15, and so far there have been two fires with a burned area greater than or equal to 1,000 hectares.

The fire that occurred on July 20 in the municipality of Vila de Rei, in the district of Castelo Branco, was the largest in terms of burned area – 9,249 hectares, followed by the fire that occurred in the municipality of Águeda (Aveiro), with 1,633 hectares.

The ICNF points out that up to 15 October there were 62 “major fires”, namely those of a burned air of 100 hectares or more.

The ICNF also indicates that the largest number of fires occurred in the districts of Porto (1,843), Aveiro (924) and Braga (912), but most of them were small and do not exceed one hectare of burned area.

The Azores PSP Regional Command, through the Ponta Delgada Police Division Criminal Investigation Squad, on 9 October, arrested 2 suspects in the act of committing drug trafficking, having been seized 30 pounds of hashish.

Following investigations carried out by the Anticrime Brigade of the Ponta Delgada Criminal Investigation Police Station, which had been going on for some time and which has intensified over the past week, it was possible to detect and apprehend in Arrifes parish, 30 kgs of hashish, which were cut into small portions and would be sufficient for approximately 60,000 individual doses for consumption.

It was estimated that this would have a street value in the order of 100,000 euros.

Following the first judicial interrogation to which the detainees were subjected, pre-trial measures were applied to both defendants, and one of them will await the further terms of the pre-trial detention process.

Several police officers from the Ponta Delgada Police Division Criminal Investigation Squad were engaged in this operation with the close collaboration of the Cinotécnico Operational Group belonging to the High Force of the Special Police Unit in the Azores.

The Coastal Control Unit, through the Olhão Coastal Control Sub-Detachment, on Wednesday, October 16, seized 270 kilos of bivalves, estimated at 1280 euros, in Olhão and Quarteira.

As part of a surveillance and patrolling action aimed at preserving marine species and safeguarding fauna and flora on the island of Culatra, the military detected 224 kilos of shell captured in a prohibited area and was immediately seized.

Following the action, two men of 46 and 48 years were identified, and the respective case records were prepared, with a fine of up to 37,500 euros.

In the same morning, in the town of Quarteira, the military seized 17 kilos of shellfish, 13 kilos of mussel, 7 kilos of oyster, 5 kilos of Japanese clam and 4 kilos of cockles for being placed on the retail market for sale to bulk, without having passed a dispatch center.

Two men of 30 and 32 years old were identified and the respective infraction notice was issued, punishable with a fine up to 25000 euros. The bivalves, being alive, were returned to their natural habitat.

GNR warns that ingestion of contaminated bivalves can cause serious health problems as bivalve molluscs are filter-feeding organisms that have the ability to accumulate various toxic contaminants in their tissues.

GNR of Castelo Branco have announced that it has recovered a piece of sacred art, stolen 21 years ago, from the Ponsul riverbed, close to the Lentiscais Bridge.

In a statement, the GNR Castelo Branco Territorial Command explains that the recovery of the sacred art piece, missing 21 years ago, took place on Tuesday.

“With the reduction of flow in the river Ponsul, the military was alerted by a member of the public of the appearance of an ‘alminha’, near the Lentiscais bridge, which had been stolen from the parish of Louriçal do Campo

He also said that the Mountain Sub-Grouping of the GNR Emergency Protection and Relief Unit was deployed and collected the sacred piece of art weighing more than one hundred kilos , through a recovery action made from the bridge deck. .

“The piece was handed over to its rightful owner, the parish council of Louriçal do Campo (Castelo Branco), which will proceed with its restoration and replacement in its original location,” says GNR.

Portugal is the only country in the world that has its cultural heritage, usually located on the edge of rural roads and at crossroads, the alminhas, popular representations of the souls of Purgatory that beg for prayers and alms.

Often, they appear in small, patterned, independent niches or embedded in walls or in church corners, tile panels, or other independent structures.

 

A column of Portuguese military personnel in the Central African Republic (CAR) was ambushed in Yadé, north of Bangui, by “an armed group” , but with no casualties among the national force.

The Armed Forces General Staff (EMGFA) confirmed this incident in a statement on Wednesday, September 26, during a mission by the Portuguese contingent, which is the rapid intervention force of the United Nations Integrated Multidimensional Mission for the stabilization of the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

The Portuguese military were deployed to “protect the population against the offensive stance of one of the armed groups in the CAR” and the mission lasted from September 23 to 30, according to the same statement.

On arrival in Yadé, north of Bangui, the capital, drones used by the Portuguese Army, “observed various elements belonging to the armed opposition group”. There was then an explosive device” accompanied by “small arms fire” against the rapid reaction force.

The CAR fell into chaos and violence in 2013 following the overthrow of former President François Bozizé by armed groups together in Séléka, prompting opposition from other militias grouped under the anti-Balaka campaign.

The Rapid Reaction Force, comprises 180 military personnel, mostly paratroopers, 177 belonging to the Army and three to the Air Force. In the CAR there are also eight members of the Public Security Police

Situation as at 0730 hrs

As at 0730 hrs (Lisbon time) the Azores civil protection services has registered about 50 occurrences due to the passing of Hurricane “Lorenzo”.  These involve mainly involve:  “obstruction of roads, falling trees and fallen roof tiles”, “in Flores, Pico and Faial.  Two people were relocated on the island of Sao Jorge, the Regional Government said. On Faial Island, a bus stop was totally destroyed. Upcoming hours are still critical.

Hurricane “Lorenzo” is now down to Category 1, at the intensity expected by the Azorean Civil Protection. “We are following the whole process and we think the peak will be around 06:00 [07:00 in mainland Portugal],” said Teresa Machado Luciano.

The maximum gust so far, is 145 kph was recorded on the island of Faial in the central group, followed by 130 Kph in Flores and 126 kph in Corvo.  A total of 61 roads have already been closed on several islands of the Azores.

The commander of the Santa Cruz das Flores Fire Department told Lusa today that the road in the Monte Zone in Santa Cruz das Flores is closed due to the fall of a large tree due to from the passage of Hurricane “Lorenzo”.

The closest proximity from the centre of Hurricane “Lorenzo” to the island of Flores should be around 100 kms at 6:00 today (07:00 in Lisbon

The Azores IPMA also confirmed that the critical period of Hurricane “Lorenzo” will run until 9:00 am in the region (10:00 am in Lisbon), mostly affecting Flores and Corvo.

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS

SATA has announced that it will cancel flights scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, until 4 pm, due to the passing of Hurricane Lorenzo. There are 24 flights, with only two connecting to the mainland and the rest are regional, which are suspended, with 873 passengers being affected, according to the airline.

SATA states that “all affected passengers will be accommodated on flights from October 2-4.”

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Nearly 1,000 operatives, including firefighters, public officials, health professionals and security forces, are being deployed at dawn in the Azores to respond to the passage of Hurricane “Lorenzo” through the archipelago.

The president of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service also said that “some people were relocated in Praia da Vitória,” by the municipality, as a preventive measure, “for living in degraded housing”.

Lorenzo” is affecting the entire archipelago, but “especially” the island of Flores and Corvo, according to the IPMA, underlining that the effects of the storm will start to feel progressively early in the morning and Wednesday morning. .

 

A joint investigation, coordinated by Spain and involving law enforcement authorities from Colombia, France, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom and supported by Europol, led to the dismantling of the largest organised crime group in the Spanish area, involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.

“Operation Beautiful” started in 2018 with an investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering. International cooperation and information exchange, which Europol made possible, between the seven countries involved contributed to the success of this complex investigation.
More than €1 million found in a panic room at the ringleader’s house

On 26 September, after extensive planning, the final stage of the operation took place.

On the action day in Spain, more than 200 police officers carried out 13 house searches and arrested 42 individuals.

The whole investigation led to the arrests of 81 individuals and various seizures including 4 000kg of cocaine, €2 million in cash, three firearms, jewellery, precious gems, luxury watches, 42 vehicles and a 25-metre-long yacht. Properties worth €20 million and 800 bank accounts were frozen.

At present, those arrested are charged with laundering over €7 million.

A well-structured and violent group

The criminal group used different methods of transportation including cargo in boats, lorries, trailers and cars with hidden compartments and a clandestine laboratory.

The criminal network had different highly structured groups, specialised in various activities; such as a security team in charge of counter-surveillance, debt collections, extortion and vuelcos (violent robberies between organised crime groups while impersonating police officers).

The group was particularly violent and recently lost a member, murdered in the city of El Campello, Spain. The multiple arrests and seizures during the long investigation made the members bolder and more reckless. This led to the detection of money movements between the leaders of the organisation.

Europol supported the case through operational coordination, analytical support and funding operational meetings. Europol also deployed an analyst to Spain to support the on-the-spot activities by performing real-time crosschecks of operational information against Europol’s databases.

Lisbon, 01 Oct 2019 (Lusa) – Former director of the Military Judiciary Police (PJM) Luís Vieira will ask to make an opening  instruction prior to the commencement of the Tancos trial, in which he is charged with criminal association, arms trafficking, document forgery, denial of justice, prevarication and personal favouritism.

Instruction is an optional procedural phase in which a judge assesses whether there is sufficient evidence to bring defendants to trial at a date yet to be determined.

The information about the request for opening of instructions was given to Lusa agency today by his lawyer Rui Baleizão. It follows similar requests by former Defence Minister Azeredo Lopes and Major Vasco Brazão Military Judicial Police (PJM).

Luís Vieira is accused in co-authorship with other defendants of PJM, GNR and Azeredo Lopes. will face trial over his alleged role in a suspected army cover-up of a theft of weapons from a Portuguese military base more than two years ago, the public prosecutor’s office revealed on Thursday.

According to the prosecutor, the recovery of military material was achieved through a “true pact of silence between all PJM defendants [including Luis Vieira] of GNR and Azeredo Lopes”, forging evidence and documents.

The prosecution considers that with the connivance of Luis Vieira and PJM elements, including Military Judicial Police (PJM) major Vasco Brazão and the GNR military, with the permission of the hierarchy, they made due diligence with the suspect of the theft and negotiated the delivery of military material with the promise of ” criminal impunity “.

From the beginning of the process, the director of the PJM disagreed that the case of theft of military material was the responsibility of the PJ and, according to the accusation, sent several emails to the head of the Military House of the President of the Republic João Cordeiro “trying to move influences at the earliest stage at a high level “.

The process that investigated the theft and staging of the recovery of the arms of Tancos’s fathers ended with the accusation of 23 defendants, including former Defence Minister José Azeredo Lopes.

Defendants are charged with terrorism, criminal association, denial of justice, malfeasance, falsification of documents, influence peddling, abuse of power, retention and possession of a prohibited weapon.

The case shook the military, led to the resignation of Azeredo Lopes in 2018, and the controversy surrounding the theft, made public by the Army on June 29, 2017 with the indication that it had occurred the day before, rose in tone after the “apparent” recovery of the material in the Chamusca region, Santarém district, in October 2017, in an operation by the Military Judicial Police.

Nine of the 23 defendants are accused of planning and executing the theft of military equipment from the national storerooms and the remaining 14, including the former minister, of the staging that was behind the recovery of the equipment.

SITREP ISSUED 1^ST OCTOBER AT 0900 HRS

The US Hurricane Centre stated last night that Lorenzo has not changed appreciably during the past several hours on satellite imagery, with an eye still present along with a large cloud shield in the north eastern quadrant. Wind estimates remain near 175 kms so that will be the initial wind speed.  The initial wind field has also grown and that is reflected in the wind radii analyses.

The hurricane is now moving faster and has turned north eastward at about 31 kph.  Lorenzo should continue to accelerate to the northeast during the next couple of days ahead of a large mid- latitude trough, with the hurricane passing near the western Azores.

Lorenzo is forecast to slowly weaken on 1^st October due to the cyclone moving over progressively cooler waters.

The IPMA latest bulletin on 30^th September at 1800hrs: Hurricane Lorenzo – Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson * scale was approximately 1650 km west / southwest of the Azores.

Maintaining trajectory forecasts, the center of the hurricane is expected to pass Category 1 on Wednesday (October 2), slightly west of Flores, particularly affecting the Western group. However, the entire archipelago will feel the effects of Hurricane Lorenzo. Therefore, it is suggested to follow the evolution of the meteorological situation through the IPMA website (www.ipma.pt) and to obtain any recommendations from the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (www.prociv. azores.gov.pt).

Western Group – southeast wind blowing from the north-west with gusts in the order of 190 km / h (with a probability of 40% of the maximum gust exceeding 200 km / h), sometimes heavy rain and waves from the south passing southwest with significant height between 10 and 15 meters, with a maximum wave height of up to 25 meters.

Central Group – southwest wind gusting up to 150 km / h and southwest waves passing west with a significant height between 9 and 12 meters, the maximum wave height being up to 22 meters.

Eastern Group – west waves of significant height 7 to 8 meters and gusting winds of 85 km / h.

The President of the Government announced today that the Azores Emergency Plan will be activated from 2000 hrs on Tuesday, October 1, and called on all Azoreans to follow the recommendations of the Regional Civil Protection Service before and during the planned Hurricane Lorenzo passes through the Region.

At a press conference at the headquarters of the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Protection Service of the Azores (SRPCBA), Vasco Cordeiro also announced that, as a preventive measure, the Government of the Azores has decided to close schools, kindergartens, kindergartens, occupational activity centres and day centres on Wednesday, October 2, on the islands of the Western and Central groups.

A major element of the emergency plan is the prepositioning of the relevant emergency service, the police, Army and Navy to areas which are likely to be most affected.

It is also worth mentioning that there will be some enormous seas on the eastern side of Lorenzo.  The hurricane will be accelerating to the northeast in the same general direction for a couple of days. Combined with the large size and intensity, this is a recipe for an amplified wave field on the eastern side due to a phenomenon called trapped-wave fetch.

 

O Governo decidiu prorrogar o período crítico de incêndios até ao próximo dia 10 de outubro, no âmbito do Sistema de Defesa da Floresta Contra Incêndios. O Despacho do Secretário de Estado das Florestas e do Desenvolvimento Rural, Miguel Freitas, publicado hoje em Diário da República, assinala a previsão da “manutenção do risco de incêndio rural em níveis elevados, (…) Tendo em consideração as circunstâncias meteorológicas prováveis para os primeiros dez dias do mês de outubro, de temperaturas com valores acima do que é o padrão para a época, uma baixa probabilidade de ocorrência de precipitação com uma previsão do nível de precipitação abaixo da média, com tendência para tempo seco e quente em todo o território nacional.

Durante o período crítico de incêndios, nos espaços florestais ou agrícolas, é proibido:
• fumar, fazer lume ou fogueiras;
• fazer queimas ou queimadas;
• lançar foguetes e balões de mecha acesa;
• fumigar ou desinfestar apiários, salvo se os fumigadores estiverem equipados com dispositivos de retenção de faúlhas;
• fazer circular, ou utilizar, tratores, máquinas e veículos de transporte pesados que não possuam extintor, sistema de retenção de fagulhas ou faíscas e tapa chamas nos tubos de escape ou chaminés.
Face às condições descritas, considera-se necessário continuar a adotar as medidas e ações especiais de prevenção de incêndios florestais, que decorrem durante o período crítico, no âmbito do Sistema de Defesa da Floresta contra Incêndios.
Lisboa, 30 de setembro de 2019