Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 19th February 2025
by Mike Evans
Very good day to you all on what is turning out to be a rather strange week of weather and other meteorological happenings. Yesterday An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale was felt in Greater Lisbon. The epicentre of the earthquake was recorded around 14 kilometres west-southwest of Seixal, in the district of Setúbal, and at a depth of seven kilometres, revealed the IPMA.
The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reports that the magnitude was 4.8, while the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) indicates that the earthquake was 4.7. According to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the tremor was also felt in some areas of the Alentejo coast, such as Sines, Vila Nova de Santo André, Santiago do Cacém and Vila Nova de Milfontes, and in the Algarve, in Faro, Lagos, Portimão and Quarteira.According to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), no personal or material damage has been reported as a result of the earthquake.
In addition, Faro and nine other districts on the mainland will be under a yellow warning on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 18th and 19th, due to the forecast of strong sea agitation, according to the warning issued by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). The yellow warning indicates a risk for certain activities dependent on the meteorological situation.
The warning will be in force between 9:00 am on Tuesday and 12:00 pm on Wednesday for the districts of Faro , Setúbal, Lisbon, Leiria and Beja.
To top it all we can expect more rain for the next few days as well. Now a look at some of the other stories that have happened in the past week.
PJ Dismantles Organized Crime Group in the Algarve
The Judicial Police, through the Southern Directorate, carried out a police operation, in which it arrested five suspects of committing the crimes of qualified fraud, money laundering and document forgery, in the automobile and boat trade sector, in the Algarve, whose total value of the frauds already exceeds one million euros.
According to the PJ, in operation “Gatsby” 12 house searches and three non-house searches were also carried out; two properties located in the Algarve were seized; three high-end vehicles; around 25 thousand euros in cash; in addition to computer and telecommunications equipment, documentation and other evidence.
During the investigations that began in 2024, several firearms, ammunition and narcotics (heroin and cocaine) were also located and seized.
“The issue at stake is the investigation of an organized group that, persistently and repeatedly, has been committing criminal offenses in different areas, in order to obtain illegitimate enrichment that allows it to sustain the luxurious standard of living it boasts, incompatible with the lawful income it is known to have,” details the PJ in a statement. According to information from the PJ, the suspects’ actions involved setting up “front” companies, strategically placed in the name of third parties, “in order to hide the actions and identity of the true beneficiaries, highlighting the frequent use of forgeries with the collaboration of individuals specialized in this type of crime”.
In the situations under investigation, in addition to the suspicion of fraudulently obtaining credit from banking institutions and defrauding insurance companies, “the suspects proposed to the victims various deals involving the import of high-end vehicles, as well as some boats”. They received from the victims “large sums as part of the payment, but the deals ended up not being completed, thus allowing them to misappropriate amounts exceeding 450 thousand euros”, the note continues.
According to the PJ, there are reports of episodes of coercion and threats against victims so that they would not file a complaint.
The detainees, Portuguese and foreign, between 30 and 36 years old, residing in the Lisbon and Algarve region, will be presented for the first judicial interrogation with a view to the application of coercive measures. The investigation is headed by the DIAP of Loulé.
Maritime Police Seize More Than Half a Ton of Fish in Tavira
Members of the Tavira Maritime Police Local Command seized 575 kilos of fish in the early hours of February 10 during an inspection operation carried out at the Tavira Fishing Port .
During the operation, members of the Maritime Police intercepted three fishing vessels that were illegally fleeing the fish market, and identified six suspects. Subsequently, the respective reports were drawn up and, as a precautionary measure, the fish was seized and sold at the fish market, “with the proceeds going to the proceedings”.
According to the National Maritime Authority ( AMN ), four members of the Tavira Maritime Police Local Command were involved, supported by two vehicles and a vessel.
The local command of the Tavira Maritime Police took charge of the incident.
41-year-old Man Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse
The Judicial Police ( PJ ) arrested, yesterday 17th February, a 41-year-old man indicted for committing several aggravated crimes of child sexual abuse, committed against two minors in his family circle.
“The abusive behavior always took place in an environment completely controlled by the suspect, especially inside his home, when the children visited,” the PJ reported in a statement.
Following the investigations carried out by the Southern Directorate of the PJ, evidence was collected, namely reports from one of the minors, alluding to episodes of sexual assault committed by the suspect.
As a result of the investigation work, an arrest warrant was issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The detainee will be brought before the competent judicial authorities today, Tuesday, for the purposes of the first judicial interrogation and application of coercive measures.
The investigation is led by the 1st Section of the Department of Investigation and Criminal Prosecution of Faro .
Faro Municipality Acquires Urban Fire-fighting Vehicle
The municipality of Faro awarded, last Tuesday, February 11, the acquisition of a new urban fire-fighting vehicle, to be incorporated into the municipal fleet. The investment, with a global value of 484 thousand euros, was awarded to Sociedade Jacinto Marques de Oliveira.
The vehicle, designed to operate in urban, technological or industrial areas, is “essential” for reconnaissance and rapid rescue operations, especially in “difficult-to-access areas”, such as the historic areas of the city of Faro or Faro Island. At the same time, the vehicle will be equipped with a fire service pump and extinguishing agent tank.
The local authority is also holding a competition to recruit 20 new firefighters and is preparing to build a new fire station.
Recently, new technical materials to support the work were also acquired, such as thermal cameras and gas detectors, a set of equipment that represents “a crucial reinforcement for the safety and effectiveness of operations in the field, allowing for faster, safer and more precise interventions”.
At the same time the Union representing firefighters has called for an “immediate intervention” from Faro City Council to improve the working conditions of local firefighters, who work, according to the union structure, with “degraded” equipment and facilities.
“The SNBP demands immediate and effective measures from the competent authorities, ensuring adequate facilities, operational equipment and decent working conditions, essential for an efficient and safe emergency service”, requested the Union in a statement.
The union structure called on the local authority to respond to the labor demands of local professional firefighters, denouncing the “unsustainable situation in which the facilities, equipment and working conditions of the Faro Firefighters find themselves”.
The SNBP assured that it has made “repeated attempts at dialogue” with the Council, but regretted that, to date, the problems identified remain “unsolved”, putting “the safety of the Firefighters and the quality of assistance provided to the population” of the municipality and the Algarve at risk.
According to the union, Faro Firefighters are also facing “degradation of equipment”, such as “inoperative or obsolete” vehicles, personal protective equipment stored in areas with “inadequate conditions” and “exposed to asbestos dust ”, a carcinogenic substance.
“There have already been serious cases of health problems among firefighters, including one death due to lung cancer,” the union warned.
The union structure noted that it met in March last year with the Faro City Council to present the demands for Faro’s sappers to the municipality and, in June, given the lack of response from the municipality, questioned the president of the Council, Rogério Bacalhau, also without success.
Albufeira Wants to Ban Nudity, Alcohol and Bikinis on the Streets
The Code of Conduct of the Municipality of Albufeira, which provides for fines for nudity and for walking around in bikinis or swimsuits in public areas, has been open for public consultation since Thursday, February 13.
With the intention of maintaining public tranquility, safety and hygiene, the Code imposes administrative offences on anyone who “remains or circulates in a state of complete nudity” or “circulates or remains with exposed sexual organs” in public areas or on public transport.
“It is urgent to establish measures that allow us to effectively deal with the adoption of abusive behavior, namely by those who seek the municipality of Albufeira as a tourist destination”, justified the municipality in the notice published in the Official Gazette, stressing that it wants to “prevent the practice of acts that, by their nature, may cause undesirable damage to the resident population and the image of the municipality as a tourist destination”.
The draft Code of Conduct for the Municipality of Albufeira was approved at a Council meeting on 27 January and, after incorporating contributions from the public consultation, will be submitted to the Municipal Assembly for approval.
The document also establishes the prohibition of “remaining or circulating in a state of partial nudity” and exposure in public areas with “swimwear – bikini, trikini, swimsuit and similar, shorts and underwear”, except on beaches, bathing areas and access points, such as car parks, or in the outdoor spaces for collective use of hotel units. The “practice or simulation” of any type of sexual act is prohibited.
The “practice or simulation of any type of sexual act, whether individual or not”, the consumption of alcoholic beverages, staying overnight, defecating, urinating, spitting, camping or setting up any camp, preparing any type of food, as well as the practice of sports, recreation, culture, leisure or artistic activities outside of places specifically designed for that purpose are also prohibited”, determines the Code.
The fines for wearing a bikini or swimsuit outside of authorized areas range from 300 to 1,500 euros. Anyone who has sex or walks completely naked in public spaces is subject to a fine of between 500 and 1,800 euros. It is also expected that amounts ranging from 150 to 750 will be paid to those who camp or practice sports activities in areas not authorized for this purpose.
Noise, both individual and group, in residential areas, the “use of street furniture in a way that makes it impossible or difficult to use”, the use of municipal property for purposes not intended, their damage or the abandonment of shopping carts on public roads are also prohibited by the municipality’s Code of Conduct. Vandalism of lighting structures and public furniture is also punishable by fines under the Code.
“The power to initiate administrative offence proceedings, as well as to apply fines, lies with the President of the Albufeira Municipal Council , with the power to delegate under the terms of the law”, states the notice.
Punitive measures may also include “cancellation of the license to occupy public space”, “removal of open terraces” and “reduction of opening hours”.
The administrative offences attributable to economic agents range from 250 to 1,200, from 500 to 2,500 and from 1,000 to 4,000 euros, according to the code.
The notice was published on Wednesday in the Official Gazette and the public consultation will last for 30 days, starting on the day following the date of its publication.
MotorCyclist Dies in Castro Marim
A 35 year old motorcyclist died on Saturday afternoon, following a collision with a car in Aroeira, Altura, in Castro Marim.
The Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command say the man’s death was declared at the scene by the INEM helicopter doctor, who was called to the accident.
There were 17 firefighters from Vila Real de Stº António and Castro Marim, INEM and GNR, supported by 5 vehicles, at the scene.
And Finally, The Volta ao Algarve returns for its 51st edition between February 19 and 23.
In 2023 and 2024, the Volta ao Algarve was recognised as the best race on the UCI Pro series Circuit, reinforcing its notoriety internationally. This year’s route has been renewed to increase the sporting spectacle and competitiveness, crossing iconic scenarios in the region. The race starts in Portimão and covers nearly 750 kilometres over five stages. Highlights include sprint finishes in Lagos and Tavira and the challenging climb to Fóia via a new slope.
Other emblematic moments include the classics-style stage, with the arrival in Faro, and the individual time trial finishing at the top of Malhão, where the favourites for the title will fight a final battle for victory. In addition to the famous international race, the Algarve Granfondo 2025 will be held on February 22. This non-competitive race is open to all participants wishing to explore some of the most authentic landscapes of the Algarve interior on two wheels.
Participants can choose between two routes – the 130-kilometre Granfondo for more experienced cyclists and the more accessible 90-kilometre Mediofondo. Both have timed segments to increase the challenge and provide an even more immersive experience.
Until the next time Stay Safe..