Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 9th April 2025
by Mike Evans
Good day to you all whether reading this from within the region or from further afield. As we start the build up to Easter there are many towns and cities gearing up to celebrate the Easter period with many of the traditional events which bring a mix of religion and carnival to our region. With all that is happening the roads will be busier than normal with tourists as well as locals out to see what is going on.
The National Republican Guard (GNR) will carry out, between the 7th and 13th of April, a road inspection operation throughout the national mainland, focusing on speed control. The operation will focus on the most critical roads under the responsibility of the GNR, where there is a higher incidence of accidents and non-compliance with speed limits, with the aim of promoting road safety.
In Portugal, speeding continues to be one of the main causes of serious road accidents, either by reducing the driver’s reaction time to deal with an unforeseen event or by worsening the consequences as a result of the greater violence of the collision. It is also the most common offence in all European countries and the main cause of death on the roads throughout Europe.
Regarding speed control, in 2024, the GNR controlled 13,151,582 vehicles, of which 9,644 were speeding. For this reason, this action also aims to raise awareness among drivers about the importance of adopting safer behaviors, with a view to promoting road safety and protecting human lives.
This operation is part of the European Traffic Police Network (RoadPol), an organisation set up by traffic police forces in Europe to improve road safety and traffic enforcement. On 9 April, an intensive 24-hour speed control campaign (ROADPOL – Speed Marathon) is planned to be carried out simultaneously by all Member States. At the end of 2021, the GNR became a member of RoadPol, and began to include the operations planned by that organization in its operational planning. As part of the annual planning to promote RoadPol, the GNR also aims to raise awareness in society about the adoption of safer behaviors by drivers and passengers, with a view to road safety and the protection of human lives.
These operations, which are European in scope, have as their main purpose the creation of a safer road environment through simultaneous intervention on the main causes of accidents , thus seeking to influence users, leading them to adopt safer behaviours. So be aware of the roads across the Algarve and keep within the Speed Limits.
Now a look at some of the other stories from across the Algarve in the past week.
Looking For Something To Do Over Easter?
Here is a list of activities in a few towns and cities where Easter celebrations are taking place over the next week or two. Between the 5th and 20th of April, several places in the city of Portimão will be involved in the celebration of Easter traditions, with the aim of reconciling religious tradition with the joy of celebrating this season with the family. “Live Easter in Portimão 2025” is the program prepared by the municipality to provide two weeks full of different experiences in several emblematic places in the city, where the popular Egg Hunt and the Easter Bunny are highlighted, but also the Selfie Hunt, with several original settings for the images captured by residents and tourists.
The “Egg Hunt” for children up to 12 years old will be held on the long weekend of April 18th to 20th and will have a different route this year, as it will go through the city and end at TEMPO – Teatro Municipal de Portimão, where participants will have the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny.
The activity will take place from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, on all three days, and will include the distribution of chocolate eggs to all participants. The Easter Bunny will also be at Jardim Visconde de Bivar on both weekends (5th and 6th and 12th and 13th April), from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
The liturgical program will mainly mark Holy Week, in a true manifestation of faith revealing the importance of this celebration.
The Easter vigils, Eucharists, Stations of the Cross and processions will take place, in the coming days, in the Parish of Our Lady of the Conception – Portimão Parish, in the Parish of the Mexilhoeira Grande Parish Church, in the Parish of the Divine Saviour of Alvor, in the Church of Montes de Alvor, in the Church of Santo André – Penina, in the Parish of Our Lady of Amparo and in the Vicariate of Pedra Mourinha.
The activities that are part of the “Live Easter in Portimão 2025” initiative are free of charge and are organized by the City Council. The full program is available here at https://vivaportimao.pt/
The Municipality of Silves, through the Youth sector, will promote during the Easter Holiday period, on April 15th and 16th, the Youth Workshops on Empreita and Laranja Zero Desperdício, activities integrated in the Prata da Casa project.
The Empreita Workshop will take place on April 15th, at the João de Deus House Museum, in São Bartolomeu de Messines, between 9am and 4pm. Following José Teresa’s instructions, the young people will make a basket made of palm leaves.
On April 16th, the Zero Waste Orange Workshop, led by Ana Almeida, will take place at the Silves Lifelong Education Center, from 9 am to 4 pm. Using the entire orange, three recipes will be prepared: orange cake, orange cookies and orange jelly.
The Prata da Casa project is the result of a Talent Pool from Silves City Council, made up of municipal workers who have volunteered to share their talents. Throughout the year, different workshops will be held by the registered workers, with the aim of promoting the development of artistic skills in young people and, at the same time, recognising and valuing the talent of Silves City Council workers.
Participation in the events is free and is aimed at young people aged 13 to 17. Registration is open until April 9th and can be completed via the online form .
The Holy Week celebrations in Tavira include several events. The local authority highlights the Triumph processions, the Burial of the Lord and the Easter Concert. On April 13, Palm Sunday, at 5 pm, the Triumph Procession will take place, departing from the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. “There are records that show that this religious event was already organized, in 1789, by the Carmelite Order of the city of Tavira”, highlights the local authority in a statement.
On the 18th, it is possible to attend the Celebration of the Passion, in the Church of Santiago, at 3 pm, as well as, at 5 pm, in the Churches of Our Lady of Conception (parish of Conceição) and Our Lady of Light (parish of Luz).
The Burial Procession of the Lord, organized by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Tavira, takes place on the same day at 9 pm, starting at the Church of Misericórdia.
On the 19th, at 9 pm, the Easter Vigil Mass will be held at the Church of Santiago, as well as at 10 pm at the Church of Nossa Senhora da Luz (parish of Luz).
On the 20th, Easter Sunday, the Resurrection Procession begins at 10 am, leaving from the Church of Santo António, to the Church of Santiago.
The Easter Eucharist will also be held on the same day: Church of Our Lady of the Conception and Saint Lucy (9 am), Church of Santiago (10:30 am). The celebrations will end at 6 pm, in the Church of Our Lady of Carmel, with the Easter Concert, by the Orquestra do Algarve (Requiem by W.A. Mozart).
PSP Arrest Man For Possession of a Knife
Police officers from the Portimão Police Station arrested a 25-year-old suspect for threats and possession of a bladed weapon on April 1, reported the PSP District Command in Faro .
In the early afternoon, the Portimão Police Station was informed that a suspect was inside one of the city’s shopping centres, in possession of a bladed weapon. Police response teams were immediately called, and the suspect was located and intercepted near the entrance to the shopping centre.
It was possible to determine that, in fact, the suspect was found in possession of a bladed weapon carried hidden in his clothing, which is why he was arrested. Subsequent investigations, carried out by the Portimão Criminal Investigation Squad, “made it possible to determine that prior to his arrest, he had coerced a citizen into handing over a significant amount of money, through threats directed against his physical integrity, that of his wife and minor daughter, as well as other violent conduct”, can be read in the statement sent to the press.
To this end, he accompanied one of the victims to the shopping centre so that she could withdraw the money. At that point, the victim managed to ask for help and the PSP was called.
On April 2, he was questioned at the Portimão Court, and was ordered to be held in preventive detention after being indicted for the crimes of aggravated coercion, advanced robbery, aggravated threat and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Body Found Thought To Be Missing ParaGlider
Authorities believe that the body of the French 29 year old paraglider Léo Romain, who had been missing since March 30th, was found yesterday afternoon on Figueira beach, in Vila do Bispo.
Following an alert given by locals at around 4.30pm on Sunday 6th April, members of the Lagos Maritime Police Local Command, the Lagos Volunteer Firefighters and the Vila do Bispo Volunteer Firefighters went to the scene.
The death was declared by a health delegate, and the man’s body was collected by firefighters and transported to Porto da Baleeira, in Sagres. After examinations carried out by the Judicial Police, the victim was then transported to the Portimão Forensic Medical Office.
Man Arrested in Almancil For Overstay of Visa
During a random inspection by the GNR in Almancil, a 49 year old man was arrested for illegally staying in Almancil after being notified to leave the country voluntarily, on January 14th 2025.
Military police approached the citizen, who presented an expired passport. After inquiries with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), it was found that the individual had been notified on January 14th this year 2025 to leave Portugal voluntarily, a deadline that was not met.
Given the failure to comply with the notification, the man’s arrest was ordered by the Coastal and Border Control Unit (UCCF) of the National Republican Guard (GNR), through the Territorial Immigration Inspection Unit of Faro and the facts were referred to the Loulé Judicial Court, for the appropriate legal procedures.
This action is part of the mission of the GNR’s UCCF, which aims to control the entry, stay and activities of foreign citizens, as well as ensuring surveillance of maritime and land borders. The GNR reaffirms its commitment to public order, legality and the safety of citizens.
Algarve is Fourth In the Country for Violent and Serious Crime
The amount of violent and serious crimes recorded in the Algarve increased by 9.9% last year, according to the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI).
In total, 997 crimes were reported to the authorities in the Algarve in 2024, which represents 90 more cases than in the previous year. This is the highest number of crimes of this type recorded in the Algarve since 2016, when there were 998 reports.
Across the country as a whole, the RASI indicates that last year there was a 2.6% increase in violent and serious crime, compared to 2023.
What to Do In Cases of a Stroke When In The Algarve
The Algarve region is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal, with an area of 5.412 km2. The population of the region is served by a single public health center, the “Algarve Local Health Unit”, with two Stroke Units (SUs), strategically located in Faro and in Portimão. The stroke team in Algarve is highly experienced and has gained national and international recognition for its quality of care and research.
The Algarve Local Health Unit is equipped with advanced diagnostic equipment, including CT scans and MRI machines, which are essential for determining the type of stroke and planning treatment. Having these two SUs guarantees an average maximum delay of 60 minutes from almost all geographical points in the region to the treatment when the transportation is made by the Pre-Hospital Emergency System. This means that prompt recognition and calling 112 largely determines the prognosis of stroke patients in the Algarve.
How to recognize an acute stroke? A stroke results from a disruption in the blood flow to the brain, leading to a sudden loss of brain function. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic (caused by a blockage in a blood vessel) and hemorrhagic (caused by bleeding). Regardless of the type, a stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Recognizing the signs of a stroke quickly is crucial for improving outcomes (Figure 1). Representation of most common manifestations of stroke, F (face asymmetry), A (arm weakness), S (speech difficulty) and T (time to act, call 112 in Portugal). Yet, it is worthwhile to highlight that the presence of any acute neurological deficit should be considered a stroke until proven otherwise. This is important because stroke can manifest in various ways, such as sudden confusion or difficulty seeing in one or both eyes; loss of balance, coordination, or even sudden severe headache without a known cause.
What should I do immediately at the slightest suspicion of a stroke?
The first and most critical action is to call Emergency Services Immediately (112). In emergency cases, access to the Portuguese National Health Service is universally free. When calling, remain calm and provide the dispatcher with the following information:
Your exact location – Be ready to give your address, nearby landmarks, or the name of the hotel or resort if you are a visitor.
A description of the symptoms – Clearly state that you suspect the person is having a stroke.
Any other important information, such as whether the person is conscious or breathing.
The dispatcher will guide you on what to do next and send an ambulance to your location. In the Algarve, emergency medical services are generally very responsive, but the sooner you act, the better the chances for a positive outcome.
What to do while waiting for help? While waiting for medical help to arrive, make sure the person remains as safe, calm and comfortable as possible:
Lay them down in a safe position Avoid food or drink: Do not offer food, water, or medication as a stroke can impair swallowing and increase the risk of choking. Monitor their breathing: If the person becomes unconscious, check their breathing and ensure their airway is clear. If necessary, perform CPR only if you are trained to do so. Stay with the person and reassure them until help arrives. If the stroke victim is unconscious but breathing, it’s crucial to stay calm and avoid panicking. Our thanks to Portugal News for this article.
As we gear up to Summer this information could be vital to friends and family visiting here in the Algarve. Stay Safe…