The Algarve Situation Report 14 June 2023
by Mike Evans
Good day to you all across the Algarve and beyond. Despite the few days of rain we have seen in the past week or so the drought situation is still a very real occurrence as we move into the summer months. This week we saw AMAL, the Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve promoting training actions on reducing water losses in the urban sector, and was aimed at the 19 management entities of the water supply systems in Baixa, more specifically municipalities and municipal companies. The initiative is part of a set of projects that the Intermunicipal Community has been carrying out within the scope of the Algarve Water Efficiency Plan, with the support of the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
This was the second training action promoted by AMAL, and took place in Faro , and is included in a contract established with the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC), in order to guarantee “the necessary support to the management entities in identifying the problems of management of urban water supply infrastructure, defining strategies to be implemented in the medium and long term, prioritising water supply subsystems and proposing measures to reduce real water losses”, says AMAL in a statement.
The Intermunicipal Community manages one of the various measures that make up the Algarve Water Efficiency Plan. This is Measure SM1 – Reducing water losses in the urban sector, which has an endowment of 35 million euros. In this context, it has been developing other actions, having, also in partnership with LNEC, carried out an in-depth study identifying the areas with the greatest potential for reducing water loss in the region and defining the measures to be taken. This study was completed in March last year and helps “to support the applications submitted by the management entities to benefit from this measure managed by AMAL”, continues the note.
In a first phase of submission of applications, 22 were selected, for an investment of 13.7 million euros, which is allowing “to intervene in 55 kilometres of water supply network in Baixa, with an estimated saving of more than 500 thousand m3 of water to natural systems”, he specifies.
The second Call for submission of applications, with an allocation of seven million euros, is currently in force and runs until the 16th of June, and is directed towards the implementation of Measurement and Control Zones, with the objective “to invest in the monitoring and active control of water losses in sections of the supply network”. According to AMAL, there will also be a third and final Notice of Applications, which is in preparation and should be launched “at the end of this month of June”. It will have an endowment of 14 million euros and will be focused on supporting investment in the renovation and rehabilitation of water supply networks in low waters, with high levels of real losses.
The Algarve Water Efficiency Plan foresees a global investment of 200 million euros, through funds from the PRR, is managed by the Portuguese Environment Agency and involves several entities. AMAL is in charge of implementing Measure SM1, which aims to intervene in 125 kilometres of water supply networks in downtown, contributing to a reduction of water losses in the urban sector of around two million m3.
Lest hope this helps alleviate the problem which could happen over the summer if nothing is done to ease the situation. We will kee you up to date on developments as we receive them.
Now a look at some of the other stories across the Algarve.
Navy Detects High-Speed Vessel Off The Algarve Coast
On Monday, the 12th, the frigate D. Francisco de Almeida, while surveying Portuguese territorial waters, detected a vessel “behaving suspiciously”, advanced the Portuguese Navy.
30 fuel jerry cans were also seized, which were dropped into the sea by the seized vessel.
“The material thrown overboard was promptly collected and recovered by the crew of the Navy ship”, can be read in a statement.The elements of the high-speed vessel, “probably related to drug trafficking, took to flight”, adds the Navy note.
9-year-old Boy Seriously Injured After Being Hit By Car
A nine-year-old child was seriously injured after being run over by a light vehicle in Portimão, on Monday, the 12th, said a Civil Protection source.
The alert for the accident was given at 20:17, for the running over of a young man of Brazilian nationality in the city of Portimão, said a source from the Algarve Sub-regional Command.
The child was assisted on site and transported to the Portimão Hospital, he added.On site were the firefighters of Portimão, INEM and PSP, in a total of 17 operational, supported by seven vehicles.
More than 140 Road Traffic Accidents Registered in the Algarve in the last Week Alone
The police authorities recorded 147 accidents on the roads of the Algarve in the last week, between last Monday and Sunday, with only injuries reported, was released today by the GNR .
In a balance of its operational activity in the last week, the Faro Territorial Command of the GNR said, in a statement, that the accidents caused two serious injuries and 25 minor injuries. In terms of road inspection, the GNR arrested 70 people: 21 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 20 for driving without a legal licence and 17 for drug trafficking, detecting a total of 517 offences. According to the GNR, 189 doses of cocaine, 159 of hashish, two shotguns, and seven bottles of nitrous oxide were also seized.
PSP Arrests 2 Men for Aggravated Theft and Drug Trafficking
The Faro District Command of the PSP, through the Criminal Investigation Squadron of the Portimão Police Division, arrested two men, aged 18 and 22, accused of committing the crimes of aggravated theft, payment card abuse and drug trafficking, he said. today that security force .
Following the news of a theft in a residence in Portimão on the afternoon of June 9, the Portimão Criminal Investigation Squadron “immediately started investigative measures”,according to the statement.
“It was found that the two suspects broke into the door of a residence, stealing 400 euros from the interior, as well as several bank cards that they later used to pay for various items in four commercial establishments in Portimão”, continues the note. The two suspects were located “on Saturday morning, the 10th, and 67 doses of hashish and items that had been acquired illicitly with stolen bank cards were seized”, specifies the PSP.
Based on all the evidence collected, the suspects were detained having been caught in the act, through a warrant issued by the Criminal Police Authority.
The detainees will be present for the first judicial interrogation this Monday, for the application of coercive measures considered appropriate while awaiting trial.
Surfer With Head Injuries Helped at Praia de Faro
The elements of the ‘SeaWatch’ project, belonging to the National Maritime Authority ( AMN ), helped on Sunday, the 11th, a surfer who suffered head injuries while practising the activity in Praia de Faro, it was announced today.
The alert was given by elements of the ‘SeaWatch’ project, who were in the area, and elements from the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Faro and elements from INEM immediately went to the place .
The elements of the ‘SeaWatch’ project found that the surfer was conscious, with head injuries, having provided first aid to the victim until the arrival of INEM elements. The victim was stabilised at the scene and transported to a hospital unit by INEM’s Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (VMER).
Man Goes into Cardiac Arrest on Alemão Beach
A 57-year-old man of Brazilian nationality was rescued on Sunday afternoon, the 11th, after allegedly feeling ill in the water, going into cardiac arrest, at Praia do Alemão, in the municipality of Portimão, reported AMN .
Following an alert received at 4:05 pm, by the Portimão Volunteer Firefighters, informing that a man was in cardiac arrest on the beach, elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Portimão, elements of the ‘SeaWatch’ project, as well as members of the Portimão Volunteer Firefighters, INEM and the PSP.
“The victim was found in a prone position in the water, having been removed by lifeguards on duty on the beach with the help of friends of the man. He was promptly assisted by two doctors who were on site, who would start the resuscitation manoeuvres, until the arrival of the elements of the ‘SeaWatch’ project and INEM, who continued the same”, says the National Maritime Authority (AMN) in a statement . “After several attempts, it was possible to revive the victim, with the elements of the ‘SeaWatch’ project transporting the victim off the beach, using the Amarok vehicle, where an ambulance from the Portimão Volunteer Fire Department was waiting, which transported him, in a very serious condition, to a hospital unit”, continues the note.
The Portimão Maritime Police Local Command ensured the security of the area and took care of the occurrence.
Fisherman Dies after Falling from a Cliff in Aljezur
A fisherman died on the 9th, following a fall from a cliff on Monte Clérigo beach, Aljezur municipality , said a Civil Protection source.
The Algarve Sub-regional Command said that the alert for the incident was given at 18:40, for the fall of a man who was fishing on a cliff.
After emergency services arrived, the man’s body was recovered and death was declared on the spot, he added. On site were means of the National Maritime Authority, the Firefighters of Aljezur and GNR, a total of 21 operational, supported by nine vehicles.
High-Speed Boat Seized in Monte Gordo
On the 8th of June, the Coastal Control Unit (UCC) of the National Republican Guard (GNR) seized a high-speed vessel (EAV), measuring 12 metres in length and equipped with three high-power engines, on the beach of Monte Gordo, in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António , announced that guard.
“After the location of the vessel was identified by the Integrated Surveillance, Command and Control System (SIVICC) of the UCC and the fact that the characteristics of the EAV correspond to those that are usually used in international drug trafficking, a maritime team from the Coastal Control sub-detachment from Vila Real de Santo António that went to the location”, can be read in a statement.
During the police investigations “it was not possible to locate any suspect next to the vessel or in the immediate vicinity, nor material inside it”, says the GNR. The EAV, with significant damage to the structure and engine, was removed from the site and seized.
The facts were communicated to the Judicial Court of Vila Real de Santo António.
Two Arrested and 700 kilos of Hashish Seized on the Algarve Coast
The Portuguese authorities detained two men on a boat off the coast of the Algarve suspected of drug trafficking in an operation in which 700 kilos of hashish were also seized, the Judiciary Police (PJ) announced on June 8 .
According to a statement from the PJ, “the detainees were presented to the competent judicial authority, and are in preventive detention”.
The investigation of this case, which continues under the responsibility of the PJ, began following a rescue mission to the crew of a vessel sailing on the Algarve coast” by the National Maritime Authority (Instituto Socorros a Náufragos and Maritime Police). Once the vessel was located and the “physical integrity of the crew” was ensured, the AMN identified “evidence of a relationship with drug trafficking activity”, and immediately contacted the PJ.
“When establishing the relationship between the two crew members of the vessel, of Spanish nationality, aged between 45 and 48, and the appearance of bales of hashish found floating in the vicinity, in the bar of Armona / Farol, in Olhão , they were arrested on suspicion of committing the crime of drug trafficking,” according to the statement.
The note adds that a semi-rigid vessel of national registration in recreational boating, navigation equipment and other instruments associated with the activity was also seized.
“This action resulted in the seizure of 20 bales of hashish, with a total weight of approximately 700 kilos”, specifies the statement.