The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 14 September 2022
by Mike Evans
Good Day to you all. We start the report with the fact that we have experienced something we haven’t seen for a long while! Rain, across the Algarve there are reports of some heavy rain whilst others have seen only slight showers.One thing to be aware of is that heavy rain on hard ground cannot seep into the ground easily so could cause some flooding. In addition the IPMA have issued warnings about the road conditions which may result in slippery road surfaces and possible vehicle hydroplaning. Please be aware that ROADS ARE SLIPPERY and rain water running down slopes takes with it mud to add to the problem.
Meanwhile here are some other stories from across the region.
903 more cases of covid-19 and two deaths in the past week.
The Algarve region recorded 903 more cases of covid-19 and two deaths, while the country had 17,044 new confirmed cases between August 30 and September 5, in a week in which 47 deaths from the disease and 431 people were hospitalised, according to official data. .
According to the situation report from the Directorate-General for Health ( DGS ), the total number of new cases in the last week represents a drop of 1,158 compared to the previous week, putting the incidence of the disease at 166 per 100 thousand inhabitants, a drop of 6% in the same period.
The infection transmissibility index (Rt) stood at 0.99 in the last week.As for hospital occupancy in the mainland due to covid-19, on September 5 it was 431 beds, 39 less than the previous week, with 33 people hospitalised in intensive care units, three less than the previous week.
The DGS began to release data on admissions for the Monday prior to the publication of the report on Fridays.
In the period under analysis, 47 people died from covid-19, two more than the previous week, putting mortality at 05 per million inhabitants, which represents a growth of 4% in a week.The campaign to boost vaccination against covid-19 at the same time as the flu vaccination for the most vulnerable and those over 60 years old started days ago and should cover about three million people, according to DGS estimates.
Man’s body found south of Carvoeiro beach
The body of a man was found on Saturday, September 10, floating in the sea about two kilometres south of Carvoeiro beach , in the municipality of Lagoa , announced the National Maritime Authority (AMN).
In a statement, the AMN indicated that “the causes that may have been at the origin of this occurrence are unknown”, whose alert was given at 10:05 am, through the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Lisbon.
The body, the source said, was about a nautical mile (approximately two kilometres) south of Carvoeiro beach, having been rescued by the crew of the Ferragudo Lifeguard Station and transported to the Portimão Naval Support Point.According to the AMN, after calling the Judiciary Police and contacting the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the body was transported to the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Portimão for identification.
Suspected Drug Dealer Remanded in Custody
The Portimão Judicial Court decreed the preventive detention of one of the two arrested last week in Albufeira , suspected of drug trafficking and possession of a weapon.
According to a statement from the National Republican Guard (GNR), the 30-year-old detainee was remanded in custody after being present at the Judicial Court of Portimão, while the 21-year-old was given bail subject to the terms of identity and residence.
On Tuesday, the GNR had arrested two men, aged 21 and 30, suspected of drug trafficking, and seized 2,788 doses of various drugs and a weapon in Albufeira.The GNR’s Faro Territorial Command, in a statement, explained at the time that the police action had taken place “following a complaint of abusive occupation of a dwelling” and because “suspected drug trafficking” had fallen on one of the suspects, the which led the Guard’s soldiers to carry out a house search and to learn the various drugs and other material, such as a nine millimetre pistol.
In total, “1,838 doses of hashish, 756 doses of cocaine, 193 doses of MDMA, a dose of cannabis, a nine millimetre pistol, three magazines, 36 nine millimetre rounds, a brass knuckle and 1,250 euros in cash” were seized. accounted for the GNR.
Paderne photovoltaic plant inaugurated
An investment of 18 million euros has enabled the construction of a photovoltaic plant in Paderne , in the municipality of Albufeira , which will have enough installed power to supply “more than 8,000 homes”, said the promoters.
The solar park set up by NextEnergy Capital and Frequent Summer “consists of 39,564 panels, with an installed power of 17.4 MWp”, occupies “an area of 28 hectares in the municipality of Albufeira” and was inaugurated this Friday, 9 de Setembro, near the Algarve town of Paderne.
The ceremony was attended by the director of NextEnergy Capital Filinto Martins and the representative of Frequent Summer, Rogério da Ponte, as well as the mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo (PSD), with the promoters highlighting the “annual production capacity of 29.6 GWh of electricity”, which will “allow supplying more than 8,000 homes”.
On the other hand, they pointed out, the project also has an environmental component, by “avoiding the emission of 9,620 tons of CO2 per year”.
“Portugal is a country with a high growth potential in terms of solar energy production. The Paderne Photovoltaic Power Station reflects this scenario and shows NextEnergy’s commitment to this type of investment”, said Filinto Martins.
The same source added that, with this investment of 18 million euros, “the company not only reinforces its global presence, by carrying out yet another project in Portugal, but also contributes to the economic and sustainable development of the Algarve region”.The mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo, considered that the municipality already had “lack of an investment of this nature” and highlighted the importance of the solar park to “cover 8,000 dwellings”.
The mayor stressed that solar energy “does not pollute, it is renewable, clean and silent” and allows the municipality to bring “a greater good” in environmental terms, when society is confronted “with various areas of combat, such as the economic and climate change, whose repercussions range from food to social dynamics”.
“Due to the high sun exposure, the Algarve has unique weather conditions for the establishment of a photovoltaic plant, in addition to being a region that already has knowledge, installed capacity and human resources prepared for challenges and investments like this”, justified Rogério da Ponte. , representative of Frequent Summer.
The same source pointed out that, “for all these reasons, Frequent Summer’s strategy will involve not only this plant, but also other projects still under development”
Earthquake felt in Loule
And Finally to close this report An earthquake of magnitude 3.2 on the Richter scale was recorded at 22:16 (local time) on Sunday, September 11, having been felt in the municipality of Loulé , according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
“The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere informs that on 11-09-2022 at 22:16 (local time) an earthquake of magnitude 3.2 (Richter) was recorded at the stations of the Mainland Seismic Network, whose epicentre was located about 60 km south-southeast of Olhão ,” the organisation said in a statement.
According to information available until around 24:00 (mainland Portugal time), the earthquake “did not cause personal or material damage and was felt with maximum intensity II (modified Mercalli scale) in the municipality of Loulé (Faro)”, refers to the IPMA communiqué.
Have a safe and secure week.