Situation Report Azores 9th August 2023
By our Azores correspondent
Sewage flowing into the lagoon of Caldeira do Santo Cristo in São Jorge
Sewage from homes is flowing into the lagoon of Caldeira do Santo Cristo, on the island of São Jorge, says the president of the Association of Clam Producers.
Caldeira do Santo Cristo has been classified as a nature reserve since 1984, based on several criteria, including its origin and geology, as well as due to the presence of the clam Tapes decussatus.
In 1989 it was transformed into a Special Ecological Area, aiming to safeguard the clam population and maintain the ecological balance of the area.
It is also part of the Ramsar network, being, like the other fajãs of São Jorge, UNESCO Biosphere reserves.
José Borges, president of the Association of Clam Producers of Fajã do Santo Cristo said that there are ancient ruins where summer houses and tourist projects are built where “sewers, kitchens and bathrooms are set up that will drain to the lagoon”.
“The summer houses or local lodgings are all made with septic tanks, facing the lagoon. Once saturated, with the winter rains, and some in the summer, everything comes to the lagoon”, declares José Borges.
In Caldeira do Santo Cristo, a significant community once lived, but today there are only about a dozen permanent inhabitants, which is much sought after by tourists for its natural beauty.
Navy rescues 57-year-old crew member
A 57-year-old man from Sri Lanka, a crew member of the federal merchant ship Kushiro, sailing about 700 nautical miles south of Ponta Delgada, was rescued on suspicion of having a stroke, announced the Navy.
PSP detains four men in São Miguel
The Public Security Police (PSP) announced the arrest of four men as part of the regular operational activity carried out by the Police Division of Ponta Delgada.
Three of these individuals, aged between 31 and 35, were arrested in the municipalities of Lagoa, Ponta Delgada and Vila Franca do Campo, one of them for the crime of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, with a BAC higher than 1.20 g/l, and two for the crime of driving without a legal license for the purpose.
According to the PSP, a 42-year-old man was also arrested in the municipality of Lagoa for the crime of introduction in a place closed to the public.
The Public Security Police also reported the arrest of two men, aged 21 and 59, in the municipalities of Santa Cruz da Graciosa and Praia da Vitória, for the crime of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, with a BAC higher than 1.20 g/l.