Archives: Situation Reports

Situation Reports news and reviews

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 9th October 2024

Storm Kirk passes north of the Azores, Tuesday

Storm Kirk will pass north of the Azores archipelago, tuesday and caused heavy rainfall, increased wind intensity and rough seas.

According to a statement from the IPMA Azores delegation, the storm “completed its transition to an extratropical cyclone” and, by 9:00 pm on Monday, its centre was approximately 500 km northwest of the Azores (Flores Island) and it was moving east.

The storm will pass north of the archipelago on Tuesday, affecting the weather on all the islands, “causing sometimes heavy rainfall, which may be accompanied by thunderstorms, an increase in wind intensity and sea agitation”, he said.

Wind gusts of “up to 115 km/h [kilometres/hour] and waves that could reach 11 meters in significant height (19 meters in maximum height) are expected in the Western Group” (Flores and Corvo).

In the Central Group (Faial, Pico, Terceira, São Jorge and Graciosa) “gusts of up to 90 km/h and waves that could reach a significant height of eight metres (15 metres maximum height) are expected”.

For the Eastern Group (São Miguel and Santa Maria), the IPMA predicts waves that “could reach a significant height of six meters (12 meters maximum height)”.

Due to the passage of storm Kirk through the Azores archipelago, the IPMA issued a red warning for this Tuesday for the islands of the Western Group due to the waves.

Orange and yellow warnings were also issued for the islands of the Western, Central and Eastern Groups, due to rough seas, wind and sometimes heavy rainfall.

According to a statement from IPMA, the islands of Flores and Corvo are under an orange warning, for rough seas, until midnight on Tuesday.

For the Central Group and due to rough seas, the orange warning is valid until 12:00 on Tuesday and the yellow warning is valid until 18:00.

The islands of Faial, Pico, Terceira, São Jorge and Graciosa are also under yellow warning due to wind until 6 pm.

The yellow warning for the Eastern Group, due to rough seas, is in effect until 6:00 pm on Tuesday.

Civil Protection records three incidents due to Storm Kirk

The Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA) recorded three incidents, from midnight this Monday, until around 11 am, following the passage of storm Kirk through the archipelago. According to the statement, the reported situations concern “a fallen tree in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island, which partially obstructed the road, damage to an electricity pole in Horta, on Faial Island and damage to a structure in Santa Cruz das Flores”, previously reported.

All incidents have been resolved.The Civil Protection of the Azores states that 76 operatives from the Fire Brigades of the Western and Central Groups are involved in this operation, with the support of 23 vehicles, which will remain on the ground under observation until the end of the orange warning in force. The SRPCBA recommends that the population continue to adopt the self-protection measures provided for phenomena of this nature.

 

PORTUGAL SAFETY AND SECURITY REPORT WEDNESDAY 9TH OCTOBER 2024

Good morning. October is the European Cybersecurity Month (ECSM), with the theme “Think Before U Click”. This is the European Union’s annual campaign dedicated to promoting cybersecurity among EU citizens and organisations, and to providing up-to-date online security information through awareness raising and sharing of good practices.

Each year, for the entire month of October, hundreds of activities take place across Europe, including conferences, workshops, trainings, webinars, presentations and more, to promote digital security and cyber hygiene. This is important as on line crime continues to increase and Portugal is not immune to this.

In 2023 the attacks with the greatest impact were ‘ransomware’ and affected local public administration, although it was not identified which local authorities or entities were affected. Local public administration suffered attacks with “more impact”, but the most frequent victims were individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), targeted by ‘phishing’, ‘smishing’ and other scams. In numbers, the national computer security incident response team CERT.PT) recorded 2,025 cybersecurity incidents (two more than in 2022), with an increase in private entities.

The brands most simulated in ‘phishing’ and ‘smishing’ attacks were banking (37%), email and other services (31%) and transport and logistics (20%). Among cybercrimes, but not included in the Cybercrime Law, “computer/communications fraud continues to stand out, with 20,159 records by the police authorities in 2023, although 4% less than in the previous year”. We will be highlighting during the month ways in wish you can reduce the risk of such attacks, through simple measures such as using strong passwords and Two-factor authentication (2FA).

As you have seen there has been a frequent weather updates on hurricane activity in the Atlantic and their possible effect on mainland Europe. In May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 2024 would bring “above-normal” hurricane activity, with 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 strength and above. The pre-season forecasts based in part on record warm waters in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, which can help fuel the formation of storms, and the expected return of La Niña, which is associated with more activity in the Atlantic.

An average season, according storm data collected by the NOAA from 1991 to 2020, churns out 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. The most active Atlantic seasons in history include 2020, which holds the record for producing a whopping 30 named storms, and 2005, which holds the record for 15 hurricanes. As of Oct. 3, 12 named storms had formed in 2024, including seven that reached hurricane status and three that strengthened into major hurricanes. The latest is Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico, which is forecast to cross Florida today and head in an easterly direction into the Atlantic.

So far there has been little damage in the Azores although winds at Morro Alto station Flores Island recorded a gust of 177.5 km/h on Monday. Only three occurrences reported concerning: “a fallen tree in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island, damage to an electricity pole in Horta, on Faial Island and damage to a structure in Santa Cruz das Flores”.

With warnings in place it is important to follow the advice of IPMA, Maritime Authority and Civil Protection to avoid getting close to coastlines. Keep yourself and others safe by following these simple steps: check the forecasts and tides in your local area; beware of large waves, even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea; take care if walking near cliffs – know your route and keep dogs on a lead and avoid walks along the sea edge or in areas exposed to rough seas, such as the protective breakwaters of ports, cliffs or beaches, to avoid being surprised by a wave.

Our team wishes you a safe week ahead

News

UK – Man who works for a WiFi company arrested after train passengers receive Islamophobic messages

People on trains at Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and 11 stations in London are among those targeted in the attack.

A man has been arrested after train passengers at some of the country’s biggest rail stations have been hit by a “cyber security incident” which saw them exposed to Islamophobic messages.

Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and 11 stations in London were affected by the cyberattack on Wednesday.

The man is an employee of Global Reach Technology, which provides some WiFi services to Network Rail, British Transport Police said after an investigation. He has been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and offences under the Malicious Communications Act 1998.

Passengers trying to log on to public WiFi at the Network Railway-managed stations were targeted with the Islamophobic message.

The message sent out in place of the WiFi login page, which has been seen by Sky News, contained a passage referring to a UK terror attack.

“Insider threats pose a significant risk to critical national infrastructure because they come from people who have legitimate access to sensitive systems and data,” Rick Goud, chief information officer at cyber security firm Zivver, said.

“Unlike external hackers who have to bypass security measures, insiders are already on the ‘inside’ of the defences.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 2nd October 2024

A 63-year-old man with medical emergency removed from merchant ship off the Azores

The Navy coordinated the rescue, by helicopter, of a 63-year-old man with suspected heart disease who was on board a merchant ship off the island of Terceira, in the Azores.

The crew member, a Polish man, had a clinical picture of heart disease, requiring urgent and immediate hospital medical care, the Navy detailed in a statement.

The man was on board the merchant ship “MIEDWIE”, flying the Maltese flag, sailing approximately 48 nautical miles, equivalent to 90 kilometres, southwest of Terceira Island.

The rescue [which took place on Sunday] was carried out by the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) EH-101 helicopter, which transported the patient to Lajes airport, on Terceira Island. The patient was later transferred to the hospital unit.

The operation was coordinated by the Portuguese Navy, through the Ponta Delgada Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Delgada), in conjunction with the Urgent Patient Guidance Centre – Maritime (CODU-MAR) and the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre<r (RCC) Lajes.

Seismic activity in Terceira “within crisis standards”

The new increase in seismic activity on Terceira is part of the pattern of the ongoing seismo-volcaeic crisis on the island since June 2022, revealed the Azores Seismo-volcaeic Information and Surveillance Centre (CIVISA).

“Since early this morning, we have seen an increase in the seismicity of the crisis at the Santa Bárbara volcano. The crisis has been ongoing since the 22nd of June 2022 and has been marked by days of greater energy release and often associated with a higher daily frequency of recorded events”, explained researcher Rita Carmo, from CIVISA.

Two new earthquakes were felt on Monday morning in Terceira, totalling six events on that Azores island since midnight.

“The strongest earthquake occurred at 3:27 am and had a magnitude of 3.7 on the Richter scale, and was widely felt across the island,” explained the researcher.

The other five earthquakes felt since midnight had magnitudes below 3.0.

Rita Carmo stressed that “the deformation pattern” at the Santa Bárbara volcano is maintained, a situation that has been recorded “for some time”.

Regarding the phytochemical parameters of water and gases, she specified that there is no significant variation in the data recorded in the permanent networks and throughout the regular CIVISA campaigns.

“The situation is assessed daily by our crisis office, and we maintain the alert level at V3. And, if there is any justification for it to be changed, we will immediately inform Civil Protection”, said Rita Carmo.

On June the 27th, CIVISA raised the alert level for the Santa Bárbara volcano to V3 and for the fissure volcanic system on Terceira Island to V1.

In volcanic alert levels, V0 means “state of rest” and V6 “ongoing eruption”, according to the information available on the CIVISA website. Level V3 confirms the reactivation of the volcanic system, with signs of high activity.

The researcher stated that the crisis office recently raised the scientific alert for the Serreta Submarine Crista to V1 (metastable equilibrium phase), because the data obtained by the CIVISA monitoring network indicated values ​​”slightly above reference levels”.

“The crisis is cantered at the Santa Bárbara volcano, but there are also adjacent volcanic systems, in this case the Serreta Submarine Ridge and the Terceira Fissural Volcanic System. And, because earthquakes occur in these volcanic systems, the level was changed to V1 because these are systems that are readjusting to the tensions”, he added.

According to CIVISA, the phenomenon that is affecting Terceira Island “cannot be dissociated from the increase in seismic activity that has been observed in the Azores and, in particular, in the Central group, since the beginning of 2022”.

“The observed pattern of activity indicates the possibility of continued occurrence of events felt by the population, which may eventually reach magnitudes and intensities greater than those recorded to date”, is stated on the CIVISA page.

 

Safe Communities Portugal Safety and Security Report 2nd October 2024

Good morning everyone. In the last three months, the rural fire-fighting system was at its maximum capacity, with 13,891 operatives, 3,084 teams, 2,990 vehicles and 72 aerial resources on standby, an increase in resources compared to the previous year.

This was a very busy period especially towards the end with many fires especially in the centre and north reaching a peak of around 450 fires on one single day with a deployment of over 5000 operatives. It was also a tragic period with the loss of five GNR soldiers in a helicopter accident and later the death of four fire fighters. Total land area burned was over 130,000 hectares taking the total to 147,000 hectares for the year. Fires also broke out in the Madeira burning for around 8 days and requiring the assistance of Canadair firefighting aircraft from Spain.

With the end of what was known as the critical period the National Operational Directive (DON), which establishes the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR), indicates that from yesterday onwards, resources were reduced, with 12,284 operatives, 2,749 teams, 2,651 vehicles and 61 aerial resources on standby on the ground until October 15. However, and in addition to the device already provided for in the DECIR for this phase, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) guarantees that the device will be reinforced in the event that weather conditions worsen the risk of rural fires.

It should be remembered that it was in mid-October 2017 that the major fires broke out mainly in the centre of Portugal costing the lives of over 40 persons. There is nothing to indicate that weather forecast and fire risk for October this year will be comparable to what it was in the same period of 2017

As a precaution however his year’s DECIR foresees the mobilization of additional resources to respond to more serious situations, with up to 20,000 operatives being able to be mobilized, until the end of October.

From fire to possible floods – the new hydrological year begins on October 1st, so it is important to be prepared for the precipitation that marks autumn by adopting prevention and self-protection measures. The need to mitigate the risks associated with possible periods of precipitation, which could be strong and prolonged, the intensification of the wind and the worsening of sea unrest, imply the early taking of collective and individual preparation measures.

The main causes of minor floods are obstructions to the circulation and regular drainage of rainwater. This can be due to: materials accumulated at the mouths of drainage systems; blockage of roadside water channels; the abandonment of waste from agricultural, forestry and inert material extraction activities, along communication routes and within water courses.

Vegetation is crucial for slope stability as it offers root support, regulates water content, and protects the soil surface. Fires can lead to slope failure by destroying vegetation, weakening root systems, and altering soil structure. Rainfall, especially intense rainfall, following fires in burned areas can therefore result in landslides and “loose objects may be dragged onto roads.

These risks can be increased when major fires occur very close to the beginning of the hydrological year and start of rainfall – as was the case this year.

The immediate or direct threats of a forest fire are the loss of human lives, partial or total destruction of private property, damage to infrastructures and loss of natural resources. However, after a forest fire, changes in vegetation, surface coverage conditions and/or hydrological processes can increase the probability and consequences of slope instability phenomena which can affect the areas in front or above the slopes long after forest fire extinction.

Be aware and prepared especially if you live at either the bottom or top of a slope that has recently subjected to rural fires. Safe Communities has prepared a feature on this topic for the Portugal Resident which will be published tomorrow 3rd October.

Our team at Safe Communities wish you a safe week ahead

News

Fighting fires. State air resources will only be fully available after 2030

The first helicopters purchased by the PS Government are currently on hold due to a lack of pilot training and aircraft qualification and certification, which are essential for operations on the ground.

The Government announced in June the State’s aerial resource plan for fighting fires, but the device is only expected to be available in force after 2030. Until then, the State will have to continue to resort to the allocation of aircraft and the help of the European Civil Protection mechanism.

In total, 11 aerial resources are planned in addition to the two Koalas that have been in action since May as part of the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR).

In addition to the two Black Hawk helicopters, which arrived this year, seven more are contracted to be delivered by 2025 and 2026, as well as two Canadair’s, scheduled to arrive in 2029 and 2030.

According to information provided by the Air Force to Renascença, the first two Black Hawks, which arrived in 2024, will only have completed the qualification, training and certification phase in two years, if everything goes as expected.

“Currently, the crew qualification and training phase and aircraft certification are underway, which is expected to be completed in 2026”, says the Air Force, adding, “the process faces insurmountable phases in order to guarantee safety and the full fulfilment of one of the most demanding and dangerous missions”.

Those arriving in 2025 will only be ready to go into the field from 2027 onwards, while the Canadairs will enter into action even later.

Duarte Caldeira, from the Centre for Studies and Intervention in Civil Protection, warns of this risk: “Since we are at the end of 2024, we can only expect to have air resources planned for 2027 or later. Only then can we count on air resources for the mission. Pilot training and certification must be taken into account. This is an entire process that is mandatory.”

“Until then, what we will continue to have, in addition to the Koalas, is the rental of resources to meet the needs of aerial intervention to combat forest fires”.

Portugal – 2024/25 Hydrological Year started yesterday

A hydrological year is between 1st October and 30th September of the following year.

The hydrological year 2023/24 in mainland has officially finished but we don’t have final numbers available, only the preliminary till the end of July 2024.

The value of the average accumulated precipitation until the end of July, in the hydrological year 2023/2024, is 934.4 mm, corresponds to 119% of the normal value for 1981-2010. The average accumulated precipitation in this hydrological year remains higher than the 1981-2010 average value and the previous year, with a difference of around + 151 mm.

The values of the average accumulated precipitation in the hydrological year 2023/2024 are higher than normal throughout the North region and part of the Central region.

In some places in the district of Castelo Branco, in the Tejo valley (some places in the districts of Lisbon and Setúbal) and in a large part of south Alentejo and Algarve, the accumulated values in the hydrological year are lower than the normal value.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 2nd October 2024

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all. Yesterday when I was writing this report I saw that the date, the 1st October Marked the International Day of Older Persons, the Portuguese Association for Victim Support presented the APAV Statistics Report called  Elderly People Victims of Crime and Violence , referring to the years 2021-2023. The statistical data made available refer to the support processes developed in person, by telephone, email and online by APAV’s 84 proximity services.

During this period, APAV supported a total of 4,793 elderly people who were victims of crime and violence, with a significant increase of 4.8% between 2021 and 2023. During this period, 8,921 types of crime and other forms of violence were recorded, with the most notable crimes being domestic violence (77.5%), threats and coercion (4.1%) and insult and defamation (3.5%). With regard to the victim’s profile, they are generally female (76.7%). In around 53.9% of cases, the perpetrator of the crime is male. In 30.2% of cases, the victim is the father or mother of the perpetrator.

 I have used these statistics because within the detail of the report it is distressing to find that the Area of Faro and its municipalities is the third district with the most elderly victims of crime and violence in Portugal (622), representing around 13% of victims, followed by Porto and Lisbon. Safe Communities has worked closely with APAV on a number of initiatives and seminars around the Algarve during the past couple of years and whilst these statistics are from 2021 to 2023 it is concerning that the reasons we started working closely with APAV was due to the increase in domestic violence across the region and we can only hope that the trend does not continue.

APAV considers that “violence against the elderly constitutes a social, justice and public health problem and that its effective combat can contribute to a more inclusive future, where everyone is respected throughout the life cycle, particularly in the context of active and healthy ageing”.

APAV supports elderly people and their families, providing them with legal, psychological and social support; it relies on the collaboration of other public and private institutions, and with neighbours, carers and acquaintances of victims — whose role can be very important, especially in reporting situations of violence. If you want to know more about APAV go to their website here: https://vm.apav.pt/apav_v3/index.php/pt/

It is pleasing to see that this week the Senior Census conducted by the GNR started in the Algarve. More on this story further in the bulletin.

Now a look at some of the other stories that have been prominent throughout the region in the past week.

Accident Involving Three Cars Leaves One Dead on IC1

One person died on Friday, the 27th, and three were injured, one of them seriously, following an accident involving three vehicles on the IC1, between Tunes and São Bartolomeu de Messines, revealed Civil Protection .

A source from the Algarve District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) said that three light vehicles were involved in the accident, two of which collided head-on.

According to Civil Protection, the accident resulted in one fatality, one serious injury and two children with minor injuries.The seriously injured victim was taken to Portimão Hospital and the two lightly injured victims were taken to Faro Hospital. The alert for the accident was given at 2:40 pm and the road was closed to traffic for part of the afternoon.

There were 26 emergency personnel from various emergency forces at the scene, as well as a helicopter that ended up not being used to transport any of the victims.

Maritime Police Arrest Man after Thefts on Faro Beach

Members of the Faro Maritime Police Local Command arrested a 36-year-old man on Wednesday, September 25, after the individual robbed two women on Faro beach, reported the National Maritime Authority ( AMN ).

“Following an alert received through the lifeguard on duty at Faro beach, informing that two women had been robbed, members of the Faro Maritime Police Local Command were immediately called to the scene,” he explains.

After arriving at the scene and carrying out the necessary investigations, the Maritime Police located the suspect, who was intercepted near Faro airport. As a precautionary measure, the stolen goods were seized and later returned to the victims. According to AMN, the suspect was charged and detained at the premises of the local Command of the Maritime Police of Faro and, after contact with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, he was given an identity and residence term, and was notified to appear at the Judicial Court of the District of Faro.

The local command of the Faro Maritime Police took charge of the incident.

Senior Census in Portugal Begins

The Senior Census Operation began yesterday, to identify elderly people living alone or in isolation and in turn help the GNR to reduce the risk of the elderly becoming victims of crimes.

Last year’s census identified more than 44,000 elderly people who live alone and/or isolated, or in vulnerable situations, said the GNR.

In a statement, the National Republican Guard (GNR) explains that the operation will run until November 15th throughout the country and involves patrolling and raising awareness among the elderly to reinforce self-protection and safety precautions, particularly in situations of violence, fraud and theft.

The 2024 Senior Census operation involves around 400 military personnel from the GNR’s Crime Prevention and Community Policing sections, distributed throughout the country, with the collaboration of various local and national partners too. This year, the GNR is extending the operation as it considers it is still essential to alert elderly people to self-protection procedures in situations of violence, scams, con jobs and theft in homes, as well as to prevent behaviour associated with alcohol consumption, combat social isolation, identify informal caregivers and train this population to use the internet.

The interior of the country was where most isolated elderly people or those living alone were identified, with the district of Guarda at the top, with 5477 elderly people identified, followed by Vila Real (5,360), Viseu (3,528), Faro (3,513), Bragança (3,347), Beja (3,230), Évora (2,972) and Portalegre (2,892).

In last year’s edition, the GNR also carried out 304 awareness-raising actions in the classroom and 2,651 “door-to-door” actions, covering a total of 24,978 elderly people.

The Senior Census operation has been running since 2011, updating the geographic location of this population each year.

This operation is part of the “Support 65 – Elderly in Safety” program, from the Ministry of Internal Administration, which aims to guarantee better safety conditions for elderly people.

Two Motorcyclists Injured within One hour in Portimao

Portimão Firefighters were called to assist two people who were injured in motorcycle collisions within an hour.

The first alert was given at 3:47pm, after a motorcycle accident occurred on Cabo Boa Esperança Street. There were 11 operatives from the Portimão Fire Department and the PSP at the scene, where a 65 year old man was injured, but not seriously, and was taken to Barlavento Hospital for treatment.

The second alert was given at 4:26pm, this time for a collision between a car and a motorcycle on Avenida Francisco Florêncio. Eight firefighters, two members of the Red Cross and a PSP patrol went to the scene of the accident, to help. This collision resulted in minor injuries to a man, who was taken to the Barlavento Hospital for treatment.

Well-known Singer’s Son arrested in Faro

Music producer – and son of well-known Portuguese singer Ágata – Marco de Sousa Caneira has been arrested after reports that he was harassing minors in a playground in the Algarve.

Caneira, 43, was arrested yesterday – and as a consequence “it emerged that he had been sentenced to six and half years in jail for raping a 14-year-old in the Azores” – which he has yet to serve.

GNR police called to the scene in Castro Marim have handed the case over to PJ judicial police, while Caneira has already been “sent to Faro prison”, writes SIC Notícias.

SIC explains that Caneira was sentenced for the rape (committed at the end of a popular festival in the Azores) in 2016, by the court of Ponta Delgada. He then appealed – but the Court of Appeal confirmed that the rape had been proven.

Caneira however never served his sentence: a warrant had to be issued for his arrest, which is how police ‘put two and two together’ yesterday, and why Marco de Sousa Caneira is now in jail.

That’s it for this week, until the next time stay safe.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 25th September 2024

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all and as the change in the weather seems to have started with the first drops of rain for a long time the headline of this report is that there is to be no changes in the restrictions in place currently for water across the Algarve. This week the Minister for the Environment revealed that whilst Water consumption in the Algarve has decreased since May by between 9.6% in the urban sector and 35% in agriculture, it has been decided that the restrictions placed on the region will remain until the end of the year.

The first restrictions were put in place in February but were loosened in May. According to the Minister “It was agreed that agriculture and tourism would make a 13% water-saving effort. Agriculture made 35%, villages and developments that signed up to the ‘Save Water’ seal saved 14%, golf made a big effort, saving 22%, and municipalities, which should have saved 10%, saved 9.6%”, the minister specified.

Graça Carvalho admitted, however, that “there is inequality” between municipalities, adding: “There are municipalities that saved a lot and others that didn’t save, they stayed more or less the same”. The situation has not worsened according to the minister but he went on to say, “There is no worsening because, on average, we managed to exceed what we wanted to save and, therefore, we can say: the Algarve, as a whole, saved more water than we intended. That is very good. We have 16 cubic hectometres more than last year at the same time. But last year was a year of very severe drought, and we have to continue making a great effort”, she pointed out. In addition to saving on consumption, the minister stressed that it is necessary to “have new sources of water” and highlighted the set of investments for the Algarve in this sector, budgeted at 360 million euros, with 260 million coming from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

Graça Carvalho said that the tender for the award of the desalination plant project, to be built in the municipality of Albufeira, “is already in the final phase”, and that 100% financing by the PRR will be guaranteed if the project is carried out quickly. History tells us that new projects are not the quickest off the blocks so we wait to see if this project moves forward as quickly as the government would like.

Now a look at what else has happened across the region in the past week.

69 arrests in the Algarve

The Faro Territorial Command of the National Republican Guard reports that, in the week of September 9 to 15, 69 people were arrested, during a series of operations aimed at preventing and combating violent crime. Among those arrested, 17 were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, 14 for driving without a legal licence and 12 for drug trafficking.

In terms of accidents, the GNR recorded 107 accidents, resulting in one death and 22 minor injuries; and 1,148 infractions, the majority for speeding, 59 for failure to undergo mandatory periodic inspection, 39 for failure to wear or incorrect use of seat belts and/or child restraint systems, 23 for lack of civil liability insurance, 20 for improper use of mobile phones while driving, and 9 related to faults in the lighting and signalling systems. The GNR also seized 545 doses of cocaine, 299 doses of heroin, 254 doses of hashish and 4 mobile phones during the period indicated.

Two brothers accused of attempted murder of cafe owner in Bordeira

The Public Prosecutor’s Office ( MP ) has accused two brothers of attempted murder for having stabbed the owner of a café in Bordeira, in the municipality of Faro, 11 times, following an argument, it was announced this Tuesday.

According to a note published on the website of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Faro District, charges were brought “against two men, aged 29 and 24 respectively, brothers, accusing them of committing attempted murder”.

The events took place on the night of March 22, 2024, in a snack bar located in Bordeira, in the parish of Santa Bárbara de Nexe , in Faro, and the two defendants are awaiting trial in preventive detention.

According to the prosecution, the 29-year-old defendant, accompanied by other unidentified individuals, was expelled from the establishment after an argument with the owner, who refused to serve him a coffee on the grounds that the bar was closing. This defendant and one of the individuals who had accompanied him went to meet the 24-year-old defendant and another person, returning to the same establishment approximately an hour after the initial disagreement.

The four men “engaged in verbal and physical confrontations with the owner and, finally, stabbed him 11 times, hitting him, among other areas, in the abdomen, left flank and chest, after which they left the establishment”, describes the accusation. “The victim only didn’t die because he was promptly taken to Faro Hospital,” the note reads. Sources revealed at the time that the two brothers were of gypsy ethnicity. The investigation was carried out by the Judicial Police.

Students from Olhão learn about mobility and road safety

Students from two 4th grade classes at Cavalinha Elementary School were the “main actors” in the activities that the municipality of Olhão promoted on Thursday, as part of the European Mobility Week – this year with the theme “Shared Space” -, which it once again joined.

On Avenida da República, students and passers-by were able to learn about and participate in various initiatives, such as taking part in a scavenger hunt on a route specially created for children by the Municipal Police Traffic School, watching a rescue by the Municipal Fire Department , hearing about the dangers for those who travel on the street or in vehicles without taking due care and how to improve circulation and accessibility.

The little ones realised the difficulties faced by those who move around a city without being able to see or with some kind of motor disability. Hélio Sousa shared his experience of daily mobility in a wheelchair.

On this day, there was also an opportunity to hear the Traffic Councillor, Ricardo Calé, the commander of the Olhão Municipal Police, Isabel Lobo, and the president of the Olhão Parish Council, Rui Gabriel, talk about mobility and road safety for children and the elderly, and it was also possible to learn more about the local government project “ Cidade 15 Minutos ”.The concept of a 15-Minute City is that each person can have access to all essential services, such as schools, health centres, shops, cultural facilities and green spaces, without having to travel long distances: a maximum of 15 minutes on foot.

This year, another highlight of the programme that marks the theme of mobility in the municipality of Olhão, involves the launch of a survey of the population on mobility in the historic centre of the city, which aims to collect data on the mobility experience in the area, identify the main issues and areas for improvement, as well as evaluate the measures implemented by the municipality and the level of knowledge of the residents in relation to them.

Tide water overflows and re-invades riverside areas

The sea water overflowed again this Wednesday, September 18, in several riverside areas of the region, known for being traditionally vulnerable to this type of phenomenon. In Portimão, Ferragudo (Lagoa), Lagos and Tavira , the water once again invaded the streets, but without causing damage.

Contacted by JA, the Faro District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) said that no emergency calls were recorded due to this phenomenon, which is already considered normal by the authorities, as it is associated with the tides (gravitational attraction between the moon and the earth) and the rise in sea levels.

Residents of the affected riverside areas are also used to flooding at this time of year. Water quickly floods the streets and surrounds parked vehicles, causing inconvenience for those caught unprepared.

Man Arrested in Castro Marim for rape of a teenager

A 44 year old man, with an outstanding arrest warrant for child molestation in the Azores, has at last been arrested by police in Castro Marim in the Algarve. The arrest warrant was issued by the Judicial Court of the Azores District, Ponta Delgada, in September 2016, due to strong evidence of the rape of “a 14 year old teenager”.

The arrest took place on Sunday, September 22 after the GNR of Castro Marim received reports of “a possible crime of sexual harassment of minors, which occurred in Castro Marim,” and discrepancies were then found in the identification of the suspect. The suspect was arrested, “verifying the existence of the aforementioned arrest warrant to serve a sentence of six years and six months for the crime of rape”, the Judiciary Police said.

The man was taken to the prison, to serve his sentence.

Portimao Man Arrested for Kidnapping His Mother

A 45 year old man has been arrested, suspected of kidnapping and domestic violence, after he barricaded himself in the house where he lives with his mother, keeping her trapped inside.

The arrest, by the Judicial Police (PJ) of Portimão, occurred “following the intervention by the Portimão Public Security Police.” The situation is said to have escalated to this after “a conflictual relationship between the detainee and the victim, aged 69”.

Police say the detainee has a history of crimes of theft, threat, assault and drug trafficking. He will be presented to the competent judicial authority for questioning and application of coercive measures.

Couple in their sixties arrested in Portimão for growing cannabis plants

The Faro District Command of the Public Security Police reported in a statement that it arrested a couple in their sixties for cultivating a narcotic product, namely cannabis sativa plants.

As part of an investigation carried out by the PSP in Portimão, under suspicion that a couple living in the city were cultivating cannabis plants, “it was possible to collect evidence of this criminal practice, after an order by the Public Prosecutor’s Office to carry out a house search”, which was carried out this Monday.

 During the search, police seized 34 cannabis plants at various stages of growth inside and outside the home.At the same time, “significant quantities of that plant in a dry state were also seized, with a total weight of more than 3,800 grams, as well as oil extracted from it, sufficient for 2,720 individual doses, as well as various articles used in its cultivation, preparation and packaging, with the suspects claiming that the products were intended for consumption by themselves”, the PSP said in the statement.

As a result of the seizures carried out, the detainees were notified to appear at the Portimão Court.

Until the next time Stay Safe

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 25th September 2024

Good morning everyone. It will take some time for communities to recover from the severe fires that resulted in the deaths of nine persons, with around 170 injuries, the destruction of property (the number yet to be confirmed) and the burning of over 130,000 hectares of land.

The fires started at a time when the fire hazard was particularly high. The Fire weather index was “exceptional”, meaning that fires can be difficult to suppress by normal means of firefighting. Once the fire gets hold and the intensity increases, driven in this case by warm easterly and southerly winds, the fire spreads and the perimeter of the fire can extend to many kilometres. For example the fire complex” in Oliveira de Azeméis, Albergaria-A-Velha, Sever do Vouga and Águeda has covered a perimeter of 300 kilometres.

As I learned from my visit to Milan, intense fires can also generate difficult atmospheric conditions with changing wind patterns. This makes firefighting extremely difficult in terms of the safety of firefighters, and with considerable smoke being generated, means that firefighting aircraft cannot operate. This was the case in these fires on occasions.

On one day there were over 400 fires registered which the ANEPC believe to be the highest since 2017.It is tragedy that some of these started deliberately with suspects having already been attested.

In the October 2017 fires, strong winds associated with the close passage of hurricane Ophelia contributed to the intensity of the fires, but it also helped in suppressing them, due to the arrival of rain and higher relative humidity a few days later. The current fires were only extinguished upon the arrival of rain. In countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia fires can burn for weeks simple because heatwaves remain. This is a consequence of the increase in global temperatures currently standing a record levels. If it continues we will experience more and higher heatwaves in Portugal and there the greater risk of not only fires, but fires burning with greater intensity, over larger areas and for longer periods.

A few days ago a fire expert Sande Silva recalled that after 2017, “there were major problems due to the expansion of eucalyptus into areas where it had never existed, in circumstances very similar” to the current one, after fires in a “very late period, in October”.

“We can also consider that it is very late because we are about to start autumn and, at this moment, it is starting to rain, and so these are the ideal conditions for the eucalyptus seeds that were released during the fire, or after the fire, to germinate soon after”, he warned. In terms of consequences for the soil, after large and severe fires, especially in mountainous or sloping areas, after the destruction of vegetation and debris called “leaf litter or dead cover, the soil is left unprotected”.

Now, in these soils without plant cover as protection and “with a higher percentage of sand”, more easily mobilized by water, “land subsidence, and stones can come loose and, in general”, an “increase in flood peaks” may occur, as in the past. “If there is a downpour, if the basin is covered, the water will be distributed over time, if the basin is not covered with vegetation, all the water will concentrate and run off at the same time, and will give rise to large flows” that can cause flooding, he stressed.

With the start of the Hydrological Year 2024/2025 to October 1, the likelihood of intense and often localized rainfall phenomena associated with atmospheric instability increases.

Recognising this Civil Protection has issued preventive advice to the population and the IPMA have issued orange level heavy rain warnings, which include areas where the fires were most extreme. It is therefore important that people are vigilant to the above and take care particularly when driving or near slopes that have been durned in the fires.

Our team wishes you a safe week ahead

News

Government highlights link between fires and climate change

Maria da Graça Carvalho stresses that climate change is “a reality for everyone”. “The consequences are already very visible. In Portugal we had the terrible fires”, she added.

The Minister of Environment and Energy referred to the link between climate change and the fires that hit Portugal last week, although highlighting the impact of “human factors”.

“There is always a part that is related to climate change. It is not only that, but it is clear that the unusual conditions that occurred during those three days, both the heat, the wind and the very low humidity, have a lot to do with everything that is climate change”, Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho told journalists in New York, on the sidelines of the Future Summit.

“But that’s not all. There is a whole organization of the forest, processes of cleaning the forest, many other human factors that are also at the origin of these phenomena,” he added.

Nine people died and more than 170 were injured as a result of the fires that hit last week, mainly in the North and Centre regions of Portugal.

Between September 15 and 20, forest fires consumed around 135,000 hectares, bringing the total area burned in Portugal this year to almost 147,000 hectares, the third largest of the decade, according to the European Copernicus system.

Burnt area in Arouca corresponds to 20% of the municipality

Regarding the economic impact of this destruction, the Mayor of Arouca says that the assessment of the losses began while the fire was still ongoing, in areas where there was no longer any fire, but will only be completed in a few days.

Last week’s fire in Arouca burned 20% of the territory of this municipality in the district of Aveiro, the local authority revealed on Monday, with the forest area destroyed at around 6,000 hectares.

“The burnt area has not yet been fully determined, but it is estimated to be around 6,000 hectares, which corresponds to 20% of the municipality”, the president of the Municipal Council of Arouca, Margarida Belém, told Lusa.

Considering that the municipality, which is also part of the Porto Metropolitan Area and is classified as a UNESCO Geopark, occupies a global area of ​​around 329 square kilometres, of which 85% is strictly forest, the portion of destroyed soils corresponds to 17% of the territory’s green area.

Regarding the economic impact of this destruction, Margarida Belém says that the assessment of the losses began while the fire was still ongoing, in areas where there was no longer any fire, but will only be completed in a few days.

“The burnt area is extensive and a lot of machinery and agricultural tools were destroyed,” explains the mayor. “Even so, we hope that the damage can be assessed by the end of this week,” she says.

Until then, the City Council’s priorities are twofold: “On the one hand, ensuring that those affected by the fire are compensated for the resulting damages as quickly as possible and, on the other, considering the weather forecasts for the coming days, ensuring the implementation of actions that safeguard the safety of the population in the burned areas”.

The screams, the fear, the distress: the longest night of the year

By Rui Caria – SIC

The country was promised that never again, that after Pedrogão, the tragedy of the fires would not happen again on such a scale. But last week, part of the country was shocked again. People died, homes and lives were destroyed, entire regions are now an open wound.

The night was the longest of the year in the village of Melres, in the municipality of Gondomar. In the early hours of the 18th of September, a fire that had reached the area a few hours earlier, in the late afternoon of the 17th, was no longer just burning in the forest, but also in the homes of some of the village’s inhabitants, where they spent the night awake.

Whether it was guarding their belongings, helping the firefighters or simply watching helplessly as the flames advanced, few people rested before dawn.

For the others, those who have lost everything, rest will not come soon.

The scene was repeated in the parish of Talhadas, in Sever do Vouga. A little over 80 kilometres away, the night was the same as in Melres. The same orange tone of the sky, the same unbreathable air, the same sparks that flew like firebirds , projecting chaos into the forests that would soon be consumed.

The same cries of distress and confusion could be heard. In forest fires, geography seems to be the only variable. And fear is the great unifier.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 25th September 2024

Azores recognized as EarthCheck Reference Destination 2024

The Azores have been recognized as an EarthCheck Benchmarked Destination 2024, due to the sustainability policy that is in force, indicates a press release from the Government of the Azores.

The regional executive adds that, according to the report published by the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure, the “Autonomous Region of the Azores met the requirements to be recognized as an EarthCheck reference destination”, and in “15 of the EarthCheck indicators evaluated, the Azores are at or above the reference level”.

The press release adds that “above the reference levels (‘baseline’), those that led the Azores to be recognized as an EarthCheck 2024 Reference Destination, are the following segments: greenhouse gas emissions, drinking water consumption, waste sent to landfill, percentage of compliant water analysis, habitat conservation and socioeconomic benefits”.

“The Azores were carefully selected to track performance in key areas of environmental and social impact performance. EarthCheck benchmarking provides an organization with a vehicle for sustainability reporting and is based on the premise of continuous improvement,” the document states.

In view of 2023, the Region now has another indicator “above the baseline”, namely greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating the positive evolution of the assessment.

In best practices, the Azores are distinguished by the percentage of green areas, water savings and the safety of the destination.

EarthCheck’s regulations bring together a set of indicators that allow monitoring the performance of the Azores destination in areas related to sustainable development at an environmental, sociocultural and economic level.

Quoted in the press release, the regional secretary for Tourism, Berta Cabral, states that the results in question “demonstrate, once again, a positive evolution, even having another indicator above the reference levels and maintaining highlights in best practices”.

“This path of continuous improvement is something that makes us proud and to which we are very committed in a convinced and determined way”.

One dead and two seriously injured in road accident

A head-on collision between two vehicles left one person dead and two seriously injured, including a young child. The road accident occurred on Friday afternoon, on the São Vicente Ferreira road, in Ponta Delgada.

According to information from the commander of the Ribeira Grande Volunteer Firefighters, José Nuno Moniz, one of the drivers, a man in his 40s, was declared dead at the scene.

The other two victims, who were in the other vehicle, required a lot of care and were taken to the CUF hospital in Lagoa as an emergency.

It is a man and a child, aged between 7 and 8 years old.

The accident occurred after 5:00 pm, and the causes are not yet known.

The road was closed, with traffic being diverted to Estrada das Capelas.

 

The Algarve Situation Report Thursday 19th September 2024

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all. With the main news in the past week being the horrendous fires which have been taking place mainly in the North of the country and the tragic loss of life that has happened as a result of these fires, our main Facebook pages have been keeping people updated on the situation across the country. With a change in the weather outlook we can but hope that the change helps extinguish these fires. Rain is forecasted for all areas of the country especially in the North where the fires have raged all week. The Algarve can also expect some rain which while we do not have the same issues with the fires it will help the region with the water situation which again is at a critical level. The official forecast for the south is- Rain is forecast on Saturday with a chance of prolonged sunny periods and temperatures peaking at 22 degrees. On Sunday it is to be mainly dry with a slight chance of rain and highs of 24 degrees and lows of 15 degrees. From Monday it is to be mainly dry and mild with average highs of 25 degrees.

Now a look at some of the stories from around the region this week.

Four arrested for Algarve luxury watch thefts

Following a three month operation in the area of Loule, police have arrested foir people in connection with a luxury watch theft spree. On 13 September, the Faro Territorial Command, through the Loulé Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC), arrested four men, aged between 24 and 34, for theft in the municipality of Loulé.

As part of several violent thefts of valuable watches by an organised group, the Guard’s military personnel carried out an investigation that lasted around three months. During the investigation, it was possible to determine that the suspects frequently entered and left the country, without following routines, opting for discreet accommodation and rented vehicles in different locations. Following the police investigations, the GNR managed to detect the suspects in a tourist area with luxury goods stores, as they were preparing to carry out a robbery, and were immediately approached and arrested by the criminal investigation and Intervention Detachment military personnel, who were monitoring the action from a distance. Following the operation, it was possible to associate the suspects with several robberies.

Police Operation Makes 69 Arrests during one week.

The Faro Territorial Command of the National Republican Guard reports that, in the week of September 9 to 15, 69 people were arrested, during a series of operations aimed at preventing and combating violent crime. Among those arrested, 17 were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, 14 for driving without a legal license and 12 for drug trafficking.

In terms of accidents, the GNR recorded 107 accidents, resulting in one death and 22 minor injuries; and 1,148 infractions, the majority for speeding, 59 for failure to undergo mandatory periodic inspection, 39 for failure to wear or incorrect use of seat belts and/or child restraint systems, 23 for lack of civil liability insurance, 20 for improper use of mobile phones while driving, and 9 related to faults in the lighting and signalling systems. The GNR also seized 545 doses of cocaine, 299 doses of heroin, 254 doses of hashish and 4 mobile phones during the period indicated.

ASAE Seize Counterfeit  Goods from Stores in Algarve

The Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE) seized 1,640 counterfeit items as part of an inspection operation in retail establishments in Albufeira and Quarteira, in the district of Faro. The inspection carried out by the Southern Regional Unit – Faro Operational Unit of ASAE “was directed at establishments suspected of selling counterfeit goods”, the note reads.

Counterfeiting, it is highlighted, constitutes a crime preceding money laundering and is “frequently associated with tax, labour and environmental offences, with a significant impact in these areas”.

The Food and Economic Safety Authority states that it will continue to monitor the phenomenon, promoting the protection of the industrial property of the owners of the offended brands and ensuring consumer protection. In the operation to combat counterfeiting, imitation and illegal use of brands, clothing, leather goods, belts, caps, hats, sneakers and costume jewellery from renowned brands were seized, ASAE said in a statement.

In total, the counterfeit items have an estimated value of 11,600 euros. The economic oversight body added that three criminal proceedings were also instituted for the sale or concealment of counterfeit products and imitation or illegal use of brands.

A Prisoner died inside the GNR cell in Albufeira

In the early hours of the 11th September, a 29-year-old citizen, who was being held at the GNR Territorial Sub-Detachment in Albufeira , was found dead inside his cell, having used his own T-shirt to end his life, the National Republican Guard clarified in a press release.

Emergency services were called immediately, however death was declared at the scene.

The National Guard also clarifies that the individual had been detained since the previous night, following attacks on his partner, aged 29, using a knife (blade weapon).The circumstances of the death inside the cell are being investigated, and the Guard is ensuring the necessary coordination with other entities, namely the Judicial Police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI).

And to end this report we bring you a news item we hope many will want to contribute to.

Campaign to raise funds started for Emergency Ambulance in Albufeira

A fundraising campaign is currently underway in Albufeira , with the aim of raising approximately 77 thousand euros to purchase an ambulance from the Albufeira Volunteer Firefighters.

“The initiative is essential to ensure that our firefighters continue to have the necessary resources to provide a quality service and ensure our safety,” the statement highlights.

 “As Albufeira evolved, in terms of population and tourism, the demand for the Fire Department also grew exponentially, in terms of the diversity of services, quantity and quality of these, with tourism having had a major impact on this growth”.Of all the activity carried out by the Albufeira Fire Department, more than 80% corresponds to health services, and so far, according to them, they have responded to around 3,349 medical emergency services.

Donations made to the Firefighters benefit from tax deductions and can be deducted from IRS without having to wait for the year’s accounts to close.

Those interested in contributing can use IBAN PT50 0045 7012 40150367389 18. For more information, contact 289 588 101 or use the address bvalbufeira@bv-albufeira.pt .

Until the next time Stay Safe

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 11th September 2024

– Mike Evans

A very good morning to you all, One item of news this week which caught my eye was the report that across the Country over 1 million people are not registered with a family doctor. In a country of just under 11 million citizens this is quite a big percentage who don’t have the means to consult a doctor on a regular basis when needed. From a personal point of view this subject arose recently when I was looking to renew my personal travel Insurance and one of the clauses that one has to adhere to is that you must have a family doctor in your own country in order to qualify for overseas travel Insurance. I have to admit this was not something I was aware of until very recently.

 The Algarve is one area of the country where this lack of family doctors is most prevalent and it is good to see that the government is taking notice of the fact by the announcement of the creation of 20 Type C Family Health Units, by the Minister of Health on Wednesday, five of which will be based in the Algarve and will be managed by individuals or associations, Cristóvão Norte, vice-president of the PSD Parliamentary Group and president of PSD Algarve, points out that “the Algarve is one of the regions with the most users without a family doctor”.  For this reason, “these units will mobilise the private and associative sector in order to guarantee faster access to health care and family doctors for many thousands who currently do not have them”, stresses the person in charge.

“The Algarve is a priority for the Government in terms of Health”, he adds. Let’s hope this is the case and these new units will help people access local healthcare more easily.

Now a look at some of the other stories that happened across the region in the past week.

GNR arrests two men for robbery in Albufeira

The GNR ‘s Faro Territorial Command , through the Albufeira Territorial Sub-Detachment, arrested two men aged 25 and 26 for robbery in Albufeira.

“Following a report of a robbery on a public road, the Guard’s officers went to the location where they found that the victim, a 25-year-old man, had been threatened with a bladed weapon, and 50 euros had been stolen from him,” said the GNR.

Following police investigations, the Guard’s military personnel managed to locate and detain the two suspects and recover part of the stolen amount.According to the same police force , the detainees were brought before the Portimão Judicial Court, and were ordered to report weekly to the police station in their area of ​​residence.

The action was supported by military personnel from the Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC) of the Albufeira Territorial Detachment.

Olhão reopens Municipal Swimming Pool Complex

The Olhão Municipal Swimming Pool Complex has now reopened to the public , after being closed in July and August , due to the drought situation affecting the country and, in particular, the Algarve . Those interested in attending the scheduled classes – which return on October 1st – can now also go to the pools to register. The closure period was used to carry out some technical maintenance work, which will allow users to be welcomed in the best possible way. The Municipal Swimming Pools have reopened with normal opening hours, from Monday to Friday, from 7:00 am to 2:30 pm and from 3:30 pm to 9:00 pm; on Saturdays, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm and closed on Sundays.

PSP detects 125 infractions in TVDE in Lisbon, Porto and Faro

A PSP inspection operation involving drivers and vehicles operating under TVDE regime detected a total of 125 infractions, including 11 for lack of valid insurance for this type of activity.

The operation, called “Safe use of TVDE”, took place on the 5th and 6th of September, having been carried out simultaneously in Lisbon, Porto and Faro, in nearby areas and at local airports.

During this operation, which involved 61 police officers, 437 drivers were checked, and the aforementioned 125 infractions directly related to TVDE activity were detected, in addition to a further 46 infractions recorded by the authorities that participated with the PSP in this operation, namely the Mobility and Transport Authority ( AMT ), the Mobility and Transport Institute (IMT) and the Authority for Working Conditions (ACT). Among the infractions found in TVDE, the PSP states that 11 were for using a vehicle without valid civil liability and personal accident insurance for this type of activity, and 25 cases were also detected without a valid written contract proving the employment relationship with a TVDE operator.

During the operation, an infraction was also detected for providing services outside of an electronic platform, four for driving a vehicle by people not registered on a TVDE platform or without holding a driver ‘s certificate .

In a statement, the PSP also reports three cases of drivers without a valid driving licence for this type of service, four of cars without the mandatory inspection, as well as several situations in which the vehicles were operating without the identification sticker and one for carrying out the TVDE activity without a licence issued by the IMT (i.e. lack of a permit). The PSP states that it will carry out new inspection operations aimed at specific activities, continuing to “pay attention to all risky behaviours of drivers that are more likely to cause road accidents”.

Loulé promotes seminar dedicated to civil protection

The IX Seminar “Civil Protection and the Community”, organised by the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Loulé , will take place throughout the day on October 16th, at the Cineteatro Louletano .

The initiative, within the scope of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, “aims to provide the general public with information on the functioning of structures linked to the sector (national and European), some projects and also the challenges that arise in the face of the impact of climate change that has led to an increase in disaster scenarios”, highlights the municipality.

The opening session, which will be attended by the president of the municipality, Vítor Aleixo, and the Regional Commander of Emergency and Civil Protection, Vítor Vaz Pinto, will take place at 9:30 am.This will be followed by a presentation by Rui Figueira, director of the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Funchal, on the mission of the Municipal Civil Protection Services in the communities. The head of the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Lisbon, Margarida Castro Martins, will speak about the municipal Civil Protection and Relief system during the World Youth Day.

“Municipal Civil Protection, what challenges?” is the motto launched by researcher Duarte Caldeira, while Fernando Carrilho, from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere, presents tsunami early warning systems.

In the afternoon, from 2:30 pm, João Almeida Silva, from the Directorate-General for Civil Protection and European Humanitarian Aid Operations, will speak about the European Civil Protection mechanism and its evolution towards resCEU.

Green infrastructure and resilience in communities to climate change will be the topic brought to light by José Carlos Ferreira, from Universidade Nova de Lisboa. On behalf of the Loulé Municipal Fire Department, António Moital will talk about a project that has contributed to strengthening community resilience: “Safe Village, Safe People Program”, presenting the study on populations in the municipality of Loulé.

Finally, Francisco Rego, from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia, will give a presentation on the transformation of the landscape and rural fires.

The closing session will be led by the councillor of the municipality of Loulé, Carlos Carmo.

Entry is free but registration is mandatory and can be done until October 6th, at the Loule Council website. .https://www.cm-loule.pt

Woman is helped on Marinha beach after falling

On Tuesday, September 3, members of the “SeaWatch” project helped a 46-year-old Spanish woman who suffered an injury to her lower limb after falling on the access road to Marinha beach, in the municipality of Lagoa , reported the National Maritime Authority (AMN).

According to details provided by AMN in a statement, during a daily patrol action, members of the “SeaWatch” project and lifeguards on duty at the beach assisted the victim until the arrival of the Lagoa Volunteer Firefighters, who later transported her to a hospital unit.

ABC Imaging Lab’s Magnetic Resonance Unit to be opened in Loulé

The Magnetic Resonance Unit at the ABC Imaging Lab, located in Loulé, will be inaugurated on September 27, announced the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC).

The unit will be operating at the ABC Imaging Lab, located in the East Zone of the Professor Joaquim Vairinhos Municipal Pavilion, in Loulé.

In the morning, at Palácio Gama Lobo, there will be several lectures by experts linked to this new equipment.

Helena Guerreiro will talk about the importance of the Academic Center’s Imaging Unit for the Algarve region, Jorge Brito will talk about the impact of Magnetic Resonance Imaging on the health of the Algarve community and future perspectives in advanced diagnostics, Teresa Correia will address the issue of the status quo and future perspectives of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in scientific research, a representative from Philips will present the technological advances and applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, while Carla Baía will talk about the applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the future of the Academic Center in clinical research. The final notes will be written by Daniel Cartucho.

In the afternoon, there will be a guided tour of the Magnetic Resonance Centre, with a reception by local representatives and guests. This will be followed by the official opening, with speeches by the mayors of Loulé (Vítor Aleixo) and ABC (Pedro Caste o Branco). This will be followed by networking at the Loulé Municipal Market.

More than 2,200 doses of drugs seized in the Algarve last week

The GNR seized, in the week of 2 to 8 September, more than 2,200 doses of drugs in the Algarve, as part of actions to prevent and combat violent crime, road inspections, among others.

According to the Guard, in the balance released this Monday, September 9, 1329 doses of heroin stand out among these seizures;481 doses of hashish;395 doses of cocaine; two cannabis plants; five cell phones and a precision scale.

During this period, 55 people were also arrested, including 16 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 16 for drug trafficking and 11 for driving without a legal licence.

In traffic, 528 infractions were detected. The GNR highlights 197 for speeding; 45 for lack of mandatory periodic inspection; 25 for improper use of a mobile phone whilst driving;13 for lack of civil liability insurance;11 due to lack of or incorrect use of seat belts and/or child restraint systems: and ten related to anomalies in the lighting and signalling systems. There were also 110 accidents, which resulted in two serious injuries and 21 minor injuries.

New Campaign on Child seat belts starts this week

The Public Security Police (PSP), the National Republican Guard (GNR) and the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) today warned of the importance of using safety devices on the roads with the launch of a new campaign.

The “Cinto-me Vivo” campaign will run from this Tuesday and continue until the 16th, and is part of the 2024 National Inspection Plan.

In addition to highlighting the importance of seat belts, the campaign also highlights the need to use an approved and properly adjusted helmet and child seats, which significantly reduce the risk of serious injury or death.

According to the note sent to newsrooms, the campaign will include inspection operations by the GNR and PSP “with special focus on roads and access points with high traffic flow”, as well as awareness-raising actions by the ANSR in mainland Portugal and in the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira.

The awareness and inspection calendar includes actions on Tuesday (10:00 am), on the EN114, in Évora; on Wednesday (8:00 am), on Rua Tenente Sanches Miranda, in Beja; on Thursday (8:00 am), on the EN101, in Vila Verde (Braga); on Friday (10:00 am), on Rua Cidade D’Agen, in Santarém; and on the following Monday (7:30 am), on the EN10, in Azeitão.

“In a head-on collision at 50 km/h, a driver weighing 70 kg, without a seatbelt, suffers an impact equivalent to a free fall from a third floor. The use of an approved helmet, properly fastened and adjusted, reduces the risk of death in the event of an accident by 40%. It has also been proven that the correct use of an approved child seat adapted to the child’s weight reduces the risk of death by 50%”, the statement reads.

The campaign is the ninth in a plan of 12 awareness-raising and inspection actions scheduled for this year. The 2024 National Inspection Plan covers the following areas: speed, alcohol, safety accessories, mobile phones and inspection of two-wheeled motor vehicles.

That’s all for this week. Stay Safe.