Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 14th February 2024
Good morning, well after the disappointment of the cancellation of most of the children’s Carnival events on 9th February and the Sunday carnival parades on 11th, due to bad weather under the influence of Depression Karlotta, the parades finally took place on Carnival Tuesday 13th.
The good news is however that we finally in the Algarve received some long awaited rain. In the last week or so all reservoirs in the Algarve have had an increase in storage, in the order of 2% vs the previous week. Still very low levels compared to the average. But as important as the reservoirs are, the levels of groundwater are also an important indicator and those will only be known by the end of February.
The rural fire risk has been at a low level since the start of the year and now is the time to start planning your land cleaning for those who live in rural areas, particularly high risk areas. We are still with higher levels of humidity and cooler weather, so the fire risk remains low.
This is also the time of the year when garden waste can be burned in small piles PROVIDED the relevant safety conditions are followed. Unfortunately sometimes such burnings have become out of control as a result of those responsible not following the law concerning registration/authorisation or safety advice. As a result this has led to damage to rural areas and property and places the community and those who have to deal with such fires at risk.
It is important therefore to follow the law and adhere to the safety guidelines in burning debris. On days of Very High or Maximum Risk, waste-burning is prohibited unless prior authorisation is obtained from the Câmara Municipal. When the risk is low, moderate or high all that is required is to register the fire with the Câmara Municipal (Municipal Bombeiros) or 808 200 520 or online at https://fogos.icnf.pt/InfoQueimasQueimadas/ in advance. Inform the authority on what you intend to burn.
We have previously expressed concern that during weather warnings there are some who ignore these warnings placing themselves and rescuers in danger. It comes as no surprise therefore that in 2023 in Madeira, nearly two dozen people have been washed out to sea off the North Coast. The report goes onto say that these occasions are mostly connected with a desire to recreate photographs that they have seen on social networks.
On this subject, the Operational Commander Comandante do Corpo Operacional – SANAS Madeira, Angelo Abreu, states that “we monitor with serious concern the voluntary exposure of citizens, mostly foreigners, to risks along the coastline on days with maritime disturbance warnings in effect. “The cause for these events, either by the words of the victims themselves or by those bystanders when the outcome is fatal, has become repetitive: “a photograph”.
Angelo Abreu ensures that the close collaboration between SANAS Madeira and the Maritime Search and Rescue Sub-Centre of Funchal (MRSC Funchal) allows us to guarantee the quickest operational response times, but when people are willing to risk their own lives to recreate one photography, we have to place operational and equipment at risk for unthinkable actions that tend to occur on days when maritime disturbance warnings are in effect. We ask people therefore to respect these warnings which are in place for a very good reason – your safety.
Coupled with the record high air temperatures in January, the ocean in 2024 also continues to rise in temperature, and is warmer now than any time in 2023. Several weeks before the annual temperature peak, and this year we are already having sea temperatures above the previous record set last year. Given that it takes 3000 times more energy to heat water than air I fear we have reached a point where global warming will no longer be something that can be debated as real or “made up” – soon we will be confronted by unthinkable extremes – and unfortunately I fear that it will already be in the next few months
We wish you a Happy “Year of the Dragon” In Mandarin: “Xīnnián hǎo” (新年好),
In Cantonese: “Gong hei fat choy” (恭喜发财)
News
PSP seized drugs, 44 firearms and 26 bladed weapons in the Carnival operation
Lisbon, 13 Feb 2024 (Lusa) – The PSP seized 15,260 doses of drugs and 44 firearms, as well as 26 bladed weapons, as part of the “Carnival in Security” operation, in which it detained 13 people for possession of prohibited weapons.
Between February 5th and 12th, the Public Security Police detained 481 people, of whom 117 were for road crimes and 62 for driving under the influence of alcohol, during road inspection actions carried out in mainland Portugal and the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira.
55 drivers were without a license and 49 were arrested for drug trafficking specified in the statement that the PSP issued today.
In the PSP’s area of responsibility, 1,187 accidents were recorded, resulting in 351 minor injuries, five serious injuries and two fatalities.
Since the beginning of the operation, the PSP has inspected 11,290 drivers and checked 54,450 vehicles using radar.
“In total, 2,681 administrative offenses were recorded, of which we highlight 512 for speeding, 78 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 249 for lack of mandatory periodic inspection, 79 for lack of civil liability insurance and 48 for using a cell phone during driving”, explained the PSP.
Driving at excessive speeds, one of the main causes of road accidents, represented 19% of the total infractions verified.
“42 arrests were also made for crimes against property and 170 judicial arrest warrants were executed,” added the police.
Trump’s statements are “dangerous and frankly irresponsible”
Brussels, February 13, 2024 (Lusa) – The United States ambassador to NATO today considered that former President Donald Trump’s statements about encouraging the invasion of Atlantic Alliance countries by Russia are “dangerous and frankly irresponsible”.
“Encouraging the Kremlin to attack any North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] country or Alliance territory puts our soldiers – those of the United States and those of our allies – in danger. Doing so, through these types of statements, is dangerous and frankly irresponsible”, said Julianne Smith, during a briefing with journalists, via videoconference, to anticipate a ministerial meeting on Thursday.
On Saturday, Republican Donald Trump said, just a few days before the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, that, if re-elected President of the United States, he would encourage Moscow to do whatever it wanted with countries with smaller contributions to NATO.
The 45th President of the United States of America (USA) made the statements during a rally in South Carolina, intensifying attacks against foreign aid and long-standing international alliances, for example, NATO.
Donald Trump said he was confronted by the President of a NATO country about the threat of letting one of the member states be attacked if they failed to meet the objectives of financial contributions to the Atlantic Alliance.
“One of the presidents of one of the big countries stood up and said, ‘Well, sir [Trump], if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, are you going to defend us?’” Trump told supporters.
And he replied: “No, I won’t protect you anymore. In fact, I will encourage you (Russia) to do whatever you want with you. You have to pay the debts you have.”