Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 17th July 2024
by Mike Evans
Good day to you all and I start this report with the warning that the Algarve is at one of its highest fire risk levels we have seen this year. While we can celebrate the fall in the number of fires so far this year we cannot let our guards down as the very hot weather coupled with the high winds can change things in a very short time.
As I write this report Eight municipalities in the district of Faro are today at maximum risk of rural fires due to hot weather, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere. At maximum risk are the municipalities of Aljezur, Lagos, Monchique, Portimão, Silves, Loulé, Tavira and São Brás de Alportel. According to IPMA calculations, the fire danger will remain high in some districts at least until Sunday.
Having just spent a few hours travelling along the N125 in both directions I can definitely report that the summer tourist rush has certainly arrived along the Algarve. This, whilst good for businesses in the tourism industry, can be the opposite for locals who have plans to reach a destination in a decent time. Please allow extra time if you are travelling through the Algarve during the summer months.
On a brighter note the Algarvian Goat is set to enjoy a better than anticipated summer. Although the Algarve region (Faro district) continues to be in a drought, the PSD/CDS-PP Government eased the restrictions that the previous PS executive had imposed in February to deal with water shortages, after the heavy rains in autumn and winter, reserves increased, and breeders interviewed by Lusa say they now have greater availability of water and food in the fields.
Nuno Coelho is a producer of Algarvian goats in the municipality of Alcoutim and gave the example of feed and straw – “they fell to almost half” the price that was charged when the scarcity of pastures, due to the lack of rain, led to a rise in the food for animals.
“This winter has been a little kinder and therefore brought a little more food abundance. Things have improved substantially”, said Nuno Coelho, who had 120 Algarvian breed goats, had to reduce the herd to 30 and start supplementing it with sheep to balance the accounts, because the goat is priced at 40 euros and the lamb reaches 120 euros.
The winter, he recalled, was “more regular and therefore it rained more”. The supply of water to the soil had consequences for the growth of pastures, bringing “more abundance of food for the animals”. Nuno Luís, with a herd of 300 goats in Castro Marim, also recognised that this “has been a normal year” and that the rain that fell allowed for “a good year of crops”, removing, for now, the scenario of lack of water that the sector was struggling with, for example, a year ago.
“We are in the summer part, of course, the water is disappearing more, but it is not said that we are running out of water now at this time. And even pastures, this year are good”, he assured, highlighting that “rations have dropped” and producers “spend much less”, because they have “more pasture on the side” and do not need to buy so much feed or straw.
Despite continuing to be a low-yield activity, both producers look to the future with greater optimism.
Now a look at some of the other stories that have been hitting the headlines in the past week.
Train collides with car and injures 6 people
Six people were injured – two seriously – when a train crashed into a car at the Poço do Barreto level crossing in Silves on the 12th July.
The six occupants of the seven-seater car were all Dutch nationals, three men and three women, aged between 18 and 25, a GNR source told Lusa. All six were taken to Faro Hospital, two by helicopter (two 18-year-old women with serious injuries) and the other four by ambulance.
“The rescue operation is complete, with all individuals removed from the scene, including the six injured from the car and the 24 train passengers,” Richard Marques, the sub-regional commander of the Algarve National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, told Lusa.
The accident forced authorities to close the Algarve railway line to make sure safety conditions were ensured.
“Following the completion of rescue operations and confirmation of the track’s condition, train service on the Algarve Line was restored,” infrastructure authority Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) said in a statement. Railway company CP later informed that the line reopened at 11.30am.
Road traffic had already been reopened earlier on the road crossing the Poço Barreto level crossing, located between Alcantarilha and Silves in the municipality of Silves. There were 24 passengers on the train, 17 of whom were transferred by a bus provided by CP to their destination, according to the deputy commander of Silves Volunteer Firefighters, cited by Observador newspaper.
The rescue operation involved firefighters from Silves and Lagoa, the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), and GNR police. The cause of the accident is still being investigated.
52 arrests made by GNR in the Algarve
The GNR from Faro district carried out a series of operations in the Algarve, during the week of July 8th to 14th. The operations aimed to prevent and combat violent crime, alongside road inspections.
During the week 52 people were arrested, including 11 for driving without a legal license, 8 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and 8 for drug trafficking. The GNR seized 221 doses of hashish, 46 doses of cocaine, 18 mobile home-type houses, 72 ammunition, 2 compressed air rifles, 7 cell phones, 3 laptop computers, and various articles of clothing.
Regarding traffic offences, 355 infractions were detected, of which 176 were due to speeding, 28 due to lack of mandatory periodic inspection, 24 were related to anomalies in lighting and signalling systems, 12 due to lack of or incorrect use of seat belts and/or restraint systems. for children, 10 due to lack of civil liability insurance.
The GNR recorded 203 accidents resulting in 34 minor injuries.
Navy rescues four men after vessel sinks near Olhão
The Navy, through the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisboa), coordinated, on the night of Thursday, July 11, a search and rescue operation for four men, of Spanish nationality, after the shipwreck of the vessel they were travelling on.
According to the Navy, the alert came at 11:10 pm through a call from the GNR warning of the fact that the fishing vessel “Praia Monte Gordo ” was sinking, with four crew members on board, approximately six nautical miles, the equivalent of 13 kilometres south of Olhão.
Immediately, and in coordination with the captain of the Port of Olhão, the Navy vessel NRP Cassiopeia and the Olhão Lifeboat Station vessel were activated. Several fishing vessels that were in the vicinity were also alerted and coordinated to provide support to the shipwrecked people. The rescue of the four people was carried out by the fishing vessel “Costasul”, which was closest to the location, having transferred the castaways to the Lifeguard Station vessel, which transported them to the Port of Olhão. Upon reaching land, the people were assisted by INEM, although they were all in good health.
Rival gang fight leaves several injured in Faro
A brawl between two rival groups in downtown Faro left several people injured this week. The confrontation, allegedly motivated by issues related to drug trafficking in that area of the city, led several residents to complain about insecurity and a lack of patrols.
Videos are circulating on social media showing several individuals in physical confrontations on Rua Conselheiro Bivar. According to TVI/CNN on Tuesday, the 9th, some suspects involved in the brawl have already been identified by the authorities.
The videos have been shared by customers of restaurants and shops who were in the area when the incident occurred and who had to leave the premises because “there were stones and bottles in the air”. Following this incident, residents have complained about the lack of security and frequent clashes between gangs, appealing that “someone has to do something”.
Maritime Police seize 300 kg tuna in Tavira
Members of the Tavira Maritime Police Local Command carried out, on the evening of last Monday, July 8, an inspection action at the Quatro-Águas ramp, in Tavira, which resulted in the seizure of a tuna, weighing approximately 300 kg, and fishing gear, namely two rods and deep-sea reels, reported AMN .
During the operation, members of the Maritime Police detected a recreational vessel, with four recreational fishermen on board, who had caught a bluefin tuna, weighing around 300kg, the capture of which is prohibited within the scope of recreational fishing .
The Maritime Police officers prepared the respective report and, as a precautionary measure, seized the fish, which was later donated to Social Solidarity Institutions, as well as two fishing rods and deep-sea reels. Four members of the Tavira Maritime Police Local Command were involved in this action, supported by two vehicles.
And finally to end this report, a couple of events which are well worth being aware of in the region.
The 42nd Faro Motorbike Rally is almost here. This year, one of the most notable events in the region (and the country) will take place from 18 to 21 July, in the mythical Vale das Almas, in Montenegro .
Four days, thousands of motorbikes, beer, concerts, exhibitions and street entertainment are the ingredients of what is considered one of the biggest and best biker gatherings in Europe and which every year, in July, attracts more and more bike lovers to the Algarve capital.
One of the highlights of the event is the motorcycle parade through the streets of the Algarve capital on the last day of the gathering, July 21 (Sunday).
And also this week, Silves is preparing to host another edition of its Beer Fest between July 17 and 21 at Praça Al-Mutamid, the town’s main riverside square.
Organised by Silves Futebol Clube and Silves Council, the event will feature more than 80 craft beers made by brewers from all over Portugal.
There will also be stalls selling handicraft and traditional products, live music and food trucks, totalling over 40 exhibitors from 19 different locations.
The event will run from 6pm to 1am and will be free to visit, although visitors wishing to try the many beers on offer will have to buy a glass.
If you’re going to either of these events remember don’t drink and drive and have a great week.