Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 2nd April 2025
by Mike Evans
A very good day to you all from what has been a fairly sunny week for a change! Although the forecast for the next week or so is for more rain, hopefully it will be short lived as we start to feel the summer coming. With the latest crime figures out this week it is interesting to see that the statistics for the Algarve have shown some good and some bad news. A quick look at the numbers which appeared on Monday show that in the Algarve, General crime fell by 1.8% (26,666 complaints) Biggest increase: counterfeiting/forgery of currency and passing of counterfeit currency +28.6% (490 complaints) Biggest drop: criminal damage -4.7% (797 complaints) Most complaints: simple assaults (1,911 complaints) Violent crime increased by 9.9% (997) Biggest increase: theft by snatching +28.1% (205 complaints)
Biggest drop: resistance and coercion against employees -9.3% (156 complaints) Most complaints: theft on public roads except for snatching (255 complaints).
Now a look at what else has happened over the past week.
PSP Carries Out Large-Scale Operation in Olhão
The Faro PSP District Command , in a statement sent to the press, reported that, on March 28, it carried out a large-scale operation in the city of Olhão , with the aim of reinforcing police presence and combating criminal practices.
This operation, which took place throughout the day and into the evening, involved several areas of police intervention, including the conditions for the stay of foreign citizens in national territory, the inspection of commercial establishments, the detection of serious violations of the Highway Code and the prevention of drug trafficking and consumption, especially in areas where educational establishments are located. The main objective of the action was essentially preventive, with the aim of promoting a deterrent effect on criminal practices and reinforcing police presence on public roads.
During the operation, three citizens were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and another for driving without a legal license. In addition, 31 cases of non-compliance with various laws were detected and three foreign citizens were identified as staying illegally in the country, who were consequently notified to leave the country voluntarily. The Faro PSP District Command reported that it will continue to regularly carry out highly preventive and large-scale operations in the cities within its jurisdiction.
Man Arrested in Odemira For Assault
A 61-year-old man was arrested by the GNR for domestic violence against his partner, aged 56, who he attacked in front of the guard, having, at the time of arrest, also struck the soldiers, in the municipality of Odemira. In a statement released today, the National Republican Guard (GNR) revealed that the man was arrested on Tuesday, for domestic violence and serious offenses against physical integrity, through the Territorial Post of Vila Nova de Milfontes, in Odemira.As part of an investigation into domestic violence, the suspect, in the presence of the guards, “physically attacked the victim,” the statement reads. “At the time of his arrest, the individual reacted violently, striking the guards several times with an object,” added the GNR.
In addition to arresting the man, the GNR officers carried out a house search and a vehicle search, which resulted in the seizure of 21 doses of cannabis, an alarm pistol and an air pistol and 24 rounds of ammunition of different calibres. Four bladed weapons, 12 pyrotechnic articles, a can of pepper spray and a precision digital scale were also included in the seized material, the Guard added.
The detainee was charged and the facts were reported to the Odemira Judicial Court. The police action was reinforced by military personnel from the Odemira Criminal Investigation Unit.
Man found dead at Arade Fishing Port
A man was found dead inside a boat on the ramp of the Arade Fishing Dock, in the municipality of Lagoa, for unknown reasons, today, March 29, revealed the National Maritime Authority. (AMN)
The alert was received at around 8:00 am, and elements of the Local Command of the Portimão Maritime Police were sent to the location, as well as elements of the Emergency Medical and Resuscitation Vehicle (VMER), INEM, the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Albufeira and the PJ.
“Upon arrival at the scene, members of the Maritime Police isolated the area and carried out all necessary police precautionary measures, with the INEM doctor carrying out the death certificate”, according to AMN. The body was later transported by the Albufeira Volunteer Firefighters to the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Portimão.
The Judicial Police officers took charge of the incident.
3 Rescued off Coast at Praia Da Rocha
On the afternoon of Sunday, March 30, three men who were in difficulty in the water were rescued, at Praia da Rocha, in the municipality of Portimão, the National Maritime Authority (AMN) announced.
Following an alert received at 1:58 pm, from locals who were in the area, reporting that three people were in difficulty in the water, “members of the Local Command of the Portimão Maritime Police, crew members of the Ferragudo Lifeguard Station , as well as members of the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Portimão and INEM immediately went to the location ”, details the AMN in a statement.
The three men were rescued by the Volunteer Firefighters’ beach surveillance team and were treated on site until the arrival of INEM. One of the victims was later transported to a hospital. The Local Command of the Portimão Maritime Police took charge of the incident.
According to what was possible to ascertain, one of the victims was in difficulty in the water, with the two friends who accompanied him helping him, who also ended up getting into difficulty.
GNR Identifies 165 Areas For Cleaning Across The Region
The National Republican Guard (GNR) has already flagged 165 plots of land in the Algarve this year to be cleaned, out of a total of 7,192 nationwide, as part of the Safe Forest 2025 Campaign, which aims to prevent forest fires, the authority said today.
The GNR’s Safe Forest 2025 Campaign started on February 1st and will run until November 30th, with the period for marking land due to lack of fuel management running until April 30th.
As for the dates scheduled for the inspection actions, there is still no calendar, and we are “awaiting the Joint Order from the members of the Government responsible for the areas of protection”, added the Guard.
According to provisional data provided by the GNR, between February 16 and March 20, 7,192 plots of land have already been flagged in the 18 districts of mainland Portugal.
In the Safe Forest Campaign 2024, according to the GNR, 7,237 awareness-raising actions were carried out, reaching 115,568 citizens.
Last year, 10,256 reports were issued and, “with regard to inspection, 2,233 reports of misdemeanours were issued for lack of fuel management and 3,028 reports of misdemeanours were issued for other offences”.
This is the lowest number of fines for poor fuel management in the last six years.
According to information available on the GNR website for previous years, in 2023 there were 2,577 fines issued for lack of fuel management, while in 2022 there were 2,271 fines issued and in 2021 there were 3,176. The highest number of fines was issued in 2019, with 6,866.
Until November 30, “the Guard will promote several awareness-raising and monitoring actions, inspection actions, surveillance and detection of rural fires (IR), investigation of the causes of these fire crimes and validation of burnt areas, with the aim of preventing, detecting, combating and repressing illegal activities, guaranteeing the safety of the population, their assets and the preservation of the forest heritage”, integrated in the annual Safe Forest campaign.
This campaign “reinforces preventive and repressive actions, promoting greater resilience in the territory against fires, guaranteeing the safety of the population and the sustainability of the national forest heritage.
Search Continues For Missing Paraglider
Authorities have resumed searches this morning, to find a paraglider who allegedly disappeared on Furnas beach, in Vila do Bispo yesterday afternoon. The alert was given by a local at around 5:20 pm on Sunday afternoon, who told authorities that he had seen paragliding equipment floating in the water.
The Sagres Lifeguard Station located and collected the equipment, and searches were immediately initiated. The search operations, coordinated by the local commander of the Lagos Maritime Police (PM), also involve members of the Lagos PM and the Vila do Bispo Volunteer Firefighters.
Two drones from the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command (CREPCA) were also activated. The Maritime Authority resumed their search this morning, by sea and by land, although so far, “no disappearances” have been reported, so the paraglider’s identity remains a mystery.
The first buyer of the paraglider has already been identified, which was done through the registration number, “but it is necessary to confirm whether the person identified is the current owner of the equipment”, say authorities. There is a vehicle in the area that “is presumed to be the one used by the person” who is allegedly missing.
Around 10 members of the Maritime Police, the Sagres Lifeguard Station and the Vila do Bispo firefighters are involved in the search operations, which are taking place south of Praia das Furnas, in Vila do Bispo. The search operations, coordinated by the port captain and local commander of the Lagos Maritime Police, involve a nautical vehicle and three land vehicles.
Weather Affected Citrus Crop Across The Algarve
The bad weather that has hit the Algarve in recent weeks has caused an estimated drop of around 30% in citrus fruit production, and “some damage” to agricultural farms.
“The agricultural sector in the western part of the country ended up being the most affected, with losses at the level of facilities,” said Diana Ferreira, vice-president of the Algarve Agriculture Federation (Fedagri).
According to the representative of the Algarve Citrus Operators Association (AlgarOrange), the weather conditions had “an impact on the orchards, with an estimated 30% of production being affected”. However, he explained, Storm Martinho had a “greater impact” on agricultural farms in the windward region, “mainly on livestock producers, with not very significant damage to facilities, sheds and animal drinking troughs”.
“There was some fruit falling in the orchards, which is normal with the wind and heavier rain, and there are situations of rot caused by the increased presence of fungi,” he said.
According to Diana Ferreira, “these are situations that are controllable, with treatments and by removing fruit from fruit centers that are not in a condition to reach the final consumer.” “Fruit that is not suitable for sale will be sent by fruit centers for valorisation, that is, for the production of biogas or organic compounds,” she explained.
Diana Ferreira assured that the information gathered from producers “is that there are no very large financial losses associated with the bad weather of the last few days”.
For the vice-president of Fedagri, although the bad weather has affected agriculture, “the balance ends up being more positive than negative, taking into account the lack of water that existed as a result of the drought in recent years”.
“This rain was very welcome and we have to see the positive aspects, as we really needed water to replenish the dams and recharge our aquifers,” he highlighted.
According to data released by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), between 18th and 24th March, there was an increase from 78% to 84% (6%) of water stored in the six reservoirs that support the public supply and agriculture of the Algarve. For Diana Ferreira, “there is the water from the dams, but it is also necessary to know what the impact of the rain was on groundwater”, stressing that 60% of agriculture in the Algarve depends on this water. “In addition to agriculture, there is also a large population, mainly in the interior and the Algarve Barrocal, that depends on groundwater,” she highlighted.
Until the next time Stay Safe..
A warning to anyone walking along the beaches after all the rain and storms. Dozens of Portuguese Man of War, capable of causing serious skin burns, have been sighted on Portuguese beaches, including Terra Estreita, in Tavira , the responsible authorities warned on Thursday. The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere ( IPMA ) has published an alert for the sighting in recent days of Physalia physalis (nicknamed the Portuguese Man of War due to its shape) on Portuguese beaches “in unusual numbers”, in some cases more than 50 on a single beach.
The effects of Depression Martinho passing through the Algarve were less than expected, with mainly damage caused by strong winds, such as falling trees and removable structures, according to civil protection. According to data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), shared by Meteofontes, gusts of 159 kilometres per hour were recorded in Fóia (Monchique), the highest point in the Algarve last night. However, “There are no serious situations and the incidents, mainly caused by the wind, were all resolved within the municipal scope, without the need to send external resources,” the Algarve regional commander of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), Vítor Vaz Pinto, told Lusa.
FireSat is described as “a constellation of satellites designed specifically for the detection and characterisation of fires, providing a detailed and comprehensive view of fire activity, almost in real time, which can be capitalised on at all stages of the process chain in the area of rural fires, from planning to post-fire”. AGIF believes this collaboration will make it possible to “test the use of the data provided by FireSat and assess its applicability and effectiveness in rural fire management operations, particularly in the detection and monitoring of fires, including alerts, fire perimeters, radiative power and rate of spread.”
As depression Laurence passed over the Algarve yesterday, heavy rain and strong winds damaged the roof of the old Albufeira fish market, on Praia dos Pescadores, causing tiles to fly off, hitting some nearby terraces. A source from the civil protection authorities said that there were no injuries reported, only material damage, and that this was the third extreme wind phenomenon recorded in the Algarve yesterday.
These actions involve the participation of the Parish Councils, the National Republican Guard , Civil Protection and the Firefighters of Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António, in a direct approach to citizens and with the distribution of information leaflets, so that the population and the community are aware of fire prevention and fighting measures.
As part of the seizures, the GNR also confiscated 159 doses of cocaine, 56 doses of hashish, three electric scooters, six cell phones and a katana. With Regard to the issue of road inspections, 676 infractions were detected, with emphasis on 132 for speeding, 84 for lack of mandatory periodic inspection, 74 related to anomalies in lighting and signaling systems, 24 for lack of civil liability insurance, 18 for improper use of a mobile phone while driving and ten for lack of or incorrect use of seat belts and/or child restraint systems.
The amount of water stored in the western Algarve river basin increased by more than 70% from the end of February to March 10th following the rain that has fallen over the last week in mainland Portugal. This basin is constantly the one that stores the least water, well below the average. According to data available from the National Water Resources Information System ( SNIRH ), the western Algarve river basin rose from 20.7% at the end of February to 35.6%, data up to March 10.
Five people (two couples and a child) have had to be rehoused after the bad weather battering Portugal in recent weeks caused a landslide in Silves’ historic centre, which dislodged the façade of an ‘old semi-detached house next to the city walls’, leaving the interior of the house visible and open to the elements.