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Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 28th August 2024

 

Good afternoon. The 5.3 Magnitude earthquake on Monday morning 60 kms west of Sines is a reminder that Portugal is at risk of earthquakes. This was the largest in terms of Magnitude since the magnitude earthquake in 1969. On that occasion, the epicentre was 200 kilometres from Sagres and had a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter Scale. At least 13 people died.

The earthquake on Monday, despite being very shallow at 17 kms, there were no reported injuries or damage, although it was felt by many people. If the epicentre had been closer to the shore or on the mainland itself it could have been a different matter. A total of 5662 reports of people feeling the earthquake were made to Volcano Discover and over 10,000 to the IPMA. We thank the over 350 people who commented on our FB posts on how the earthquake effected them.

Thank you to our team member Fernanda Goncalves for posting on our Facebook page the information just 17 minutes following the earthquake occurring! Some 30 minutes later it was announced on social media by ANEPC and nearly 3 hours later by IPMA. However IPMA had earlier placed details on their website and Lusa News agency published this at O546 hrs

The earthquake illustrates the importance of knowing what action to take during and after an earthquake something we at Safe Communities Portugal do at regular intervals, including of course the “A Terra Treme” annual earthquake exercise held in November. A reminder of action to take can be found here. It also highlight the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of properties in Portugal that do not have earthquake resilience, especially those built before 1958.

In monitoring the Madeira fires over the last 12 days we have read perhaps hundreds of interviews regarding the progress of combatting the fire, coming from journalist, officials and political leaders including parish, municipal and regional leaders. Often we have identified contradictions, and sometimes press releases made at similar times, with different content.

However, standing out amongst these, in a most positive way, was the mayor of Santana Dinarte Fernandes who on Saturday argued that “conclusions must be drawn from the fight against the fire on the island of Madeira, warning that without national and European resources it would have been difficult to control the situation”.

He added “that without the resources made available by the Republic, namely the special firefighting team, and then the activation of the European resource with aircraft, it would be very difficult to have the situation in the Autonomous Region of Madeira under control”.

Dinarte Fernandes argued that “political and technical leaders”, whether in the forestry sector or in Civil Protection, “must draw conclusions so that situations like these can be addressed and dealt with more quickly”.

“We cannot allow the repercussions of a fire that starts on the other side of the island to be like this. We have all understood this. We spent 20 years saying that helicopters would not work, but in the end they do and they work. We spent another 20 years saying that Canadairs and fixed wing aircraft would not work, but in the end they do,” he said.

The Mayor stressed that there will always be “a risk of fire” in the forest, but argued that it is necessary to “think about the type of forest we want” for the future.

“We need to be more realistic on these issues and try out the solutions that the world offers us to fight fires and not be so parochial to the point of thinking that we have all the solutions here,” he added.

Madeira’s Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Plan ceases to be in force this Tuesday.

Our team at Safe Communities wishes you a safe week ahead

News and Features

How did Portugal manage to reduce the number of fires in just six years?

Tiago Oliveira, president of AGIF, highlights the importance of local awareness-raising work and advocates the creation of an interoperability mechanism in fire-fighting at European level.

More than 100 people have died and 500,000 hectares of land have been burned. This scenario has not been repeated in Portugal since 2017, the year in which the deadliest and most devastating fires were recorded in the country.

Since then, the number of forest fires has been reduced by more than half , mainly thanks to a campaign to prevent risky behaviour, promoted by the Agency for Integrated Management of Rural Fires (AGIF), within the scope of the Integrated Management System of Rural Fires (SGIFR).

“We started working after 2017. Portuguese society was very traumatized by the issue of fires and in the first year of the campaign in 2018, we focused on a clearer message: ‘Portugal is calling for you’, because it was necessary to call on all Portuguese people to reduce the number of fires”, says Tiago Oliveira, president of the board of directors of AGIF, in statements to Euronews.

According to Tiago Oliveira, an average of 20,000 fires broke out in Portugal per year before 2019 and last year there were 7,000.

“This was achieved through a communications campaign on television, in newspapers and on the radio, and through measures to improve the effectiveness of the campaign, providing alternatives to people who needed to use fire to eliminate agricultural waste, providing a number that allowed people to call and ask for help to burn or ask whether they could burn or not”, explains the technician, highlighting that there was a change in the behaviour of the Portuguese in terms of the negligent use of fire.

“This year, the strategy will involve and is involving personalized door-to-door contacts, through the National Republican Guard, for example. It is involving greater involvement, now with the Ministry of Education, with campaigns in schools, between the ages of five and 12, with the ‘ Raposa Chama ‘ project that will mobilize around half a million students over the next five years”, explains Tiago Oliveira.

According to data released on Monday by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), the year 2024 will have, up until August 15, the lowest number of fires and the lowest area burned since 2014. In total, there have already been 3,485 rural fires this year.

Even so, August is already the month with the largest area burned in 2024 and doubled the figures for July. From 1 to 15 August, 3,484 hectares burned, while in the previous month the fires had consumed an area of ​​1,582 hectares. The area burned in these first two weeks corresponds to 44% of the total area burned this year in mainland Portugal (7,949 hectares).

Comparing the figures for 2024 with the previous 10 years, there were 58% fewer rural fires and 87% fewer burnt areas compared to the annual average for the same period.

“This year, 2024, we have 3,500 fires, which is a relatively relevant record, because people have also consolidated this knowledge in rural areas. There was also a mild summer, we didn’t have as much drought and, therefore, all the sparks don’t start fires”, explains the president of AGIF.

According to the “State of Wildfires” report published in the journal Earth System Science Data, from March 2023 to February 2024, the fires were contained in size in Europe, devastating only 8,400 square kilometres, but resulted in the interruption of water supplies, damage to infrastructure or agricultural land, with impacts on tourism and local economies.

According to data from the World Bank, forest fires caused losses of 77 billion euros in Europe in 2023.

Tiago Oliveira argues that Europe needs an “interoperability mechanism so that forces from neighbouring countries can operate in the same way”.

“It is not enough to send air assets from one country to another. When the air assets arrive, they must be coordinated with the forces on the ground and they must work with common mechanisms. Canada and the United States do this very well and Europe can take inspiration from this model,” he argues.

Furthermore, the AGIF president believes that policy coordination is necessary. “In particular, using the Common Agricultural Policy , which allows farmers to better manage their forests, and bringing more attention from the Common Agricultural Policy to abandoned land, to agricultural practices that do not generate fire and allow vegetation to always be treated,” he adds.

To date, the fire in Evros , northeastern Greece, in August last year is the largest ever recorded in the European Union. It burned 938 square kilometres in one go, setting a new record for the old continent.

 

 

 

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 21 August 2024

 

By Mike Evans

 

A very warm welcome to you after my absence of a couple of weeks. During this time of being away the temperatures across the Algarve have risen considerably and with the hot weather the subject of water or the lack of it rears its head again. According to the latest figures and report issued by the IMPA almost 40% of mainland Portugal was in moderate and severe meteorological drought at the end of July, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere ( IPMA ) in its climatological bulletin for last month.

According to the document released, there was an increase in the area of ​​moderate and severe meteorological drought in the southern region, affecting the districts of Faro , Beja, Évora, Setúbal and Portalegre.

According to the IPMA, the month of July in mainland Portugal was classified as hot in relation to air temperature and normal in relation to precipitation. It was the ninth warmest July since 2000, with the average air temperature, 23.15 degrees Celsius (°C), being 0.65 °C higher than the value recorded between 1981 and 2010.

Te minimum temperature recorded the eighth highest value since 2000, at 16.12°C, an anomaly of +0.28°C above the normal value. The maximum temperature, with an average value of 30.17°C, also represents an anomaly of +1.02°C above the normal value.

In terms of precipitation, it was the eighth rainiest July since 2000. The IPMA recalls that the beginning of the month had minimum temperatures well below normal, especially on the 7th and 8th, and that the hottest day of the year was recorded on the 23rd.

However, there is some good news for those whose livelihood depends on agriculture. A partnership is underway for the Use of Small Hydro-Agricultural Structures in the Sotavento and Northeast Algarve after the publication of an Executive Order No. 184/2024/1, of August 13, signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, has now been published, reclassifying the works of the Hydro-Agricultural Projects in four areas of the municipalities of Alcoutim and Castro Marim, announced the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR).

The hydro-agricultural development works will take place in Pão Duro (23.5 ha) and Vaqueiros (35 ha), in the parish of Vaqueiros, municipality of Alcoutim, and in Almada de Ouro (31.6 ha), in the parishes of Azinhal and Odeleite, and Caroucha (50 ha), in the municipality of Castro Marim, each encompassing an embankment dam and irrigation networks that supply water to the respective collective irrigation perimeters.

“The need to adapt the management model to the complexity and importance of these four hydro-agricultural developments, built in the 1980s and 1990s, is reflected, above all, at a local level, with the high collective impact of the added value associated with the availability of water for irrigation and the potential use of reservoirs, preparing the region for a future with more frequent and severe droughts”, highlights the CCDR in a statement. “In addition to this justification, there is the technical complexity inherent in the conservation, operation and management of dams and other infrastructures and the possibility of accessing the concession regime, only provided for works in groups I, II and III”, the note continues.

This marks “another stage in this strategy of reconciling human and social development in areas of the Algarve’s interior and greater efficiency in water use, ensuring the availability of water for agriculture”, he concludes.

For the rest of us we will have to continue to save water and hope that the taps don’t run dry before the end of the summer and before the usual winter rains appear.

Now a look at some of the other stories from across the region.

AMN rescues three children in difficulty at Cacela Velha bar

On Sunday, August 18, members of the “SeaWatch” Project rescued three children, aged five, six and 10, who were in difficulty in the water, in an unsupervised area, after being swept away by the current, at the Cacela Velha bar, in Vila Real de Santo António , indicated the National Maritime Authority (AMN).

During a surveillance operation in that area, members of the “SeaWatch” Project detected three children in need of assistance, in difficulty in the water, after having been swept away by the strong current. The victims were quickly rescued and taken to land.

According to AMN, the children were physically well and did not need medical assistance.The National Maritime Authority reinforced its advice against bathing in the Cacela Velha bar area due to the dangers it poses.

AMN assists four crew members of a vessel without propulsion in Olhão

On Thursday, August 15, crew members from the Olhão Lifeboat Station assisted four crew members (three men and one woman) from a recreational vessel that ran out of propulsion one nautical mile (about two kilometres) from Barra do Lavajo, also known as Barra da Armona, in the municipality of Olhão , indicated the National Maritime Authority (AMN).

Following an alert received at 2:54 p.m., through the master of the vessel recreation, the crew of the Olhão Lifeguard Station and elements of the local Command of the Olhão Maritime Police were immediately activated.

Upon arrival at the vessel, the AMN found that the four crew members were physically well, without needing medical assistance, and the crew of the Lifeguard Station proceeded to tow the vessel, for reasons of safety for the people and navigation, to the Olhão Naval Group pier.

 

Motorcyclist seriously injured in collision with light vehicle

A collision between a motorcycle and a light vehicle, in Pardieiro, Monchique, left one person seriously injured on Tuesday, the 13th, who was transferred by helicopter to the hospital in Faro , revealed a source from Civil Protection. “It was a collision between a light vehicle and a motorcycle, which resulted in a seriously injured woman, aged 20, of Portuguese nationality, the driver of the motorcycle,” said a source from the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command.

The woman was transported by ambulance from the secondary road where the accident occurred, at around 4:40 pm, to the Monchique heliport, from where she was transported to the Faro hospital in the National Institute of Medical Emergency ( INEM ) helicopter.

Region reduces water consumption in tourist developments by 14%

Until July, tourist developments in the Algarve that signed up to the “Save Water” seal recorded a 14% reduction in overall consumption and an 18% reduction in specific water consumption (consumption per overnight stay), RTA reported.

The figures are included in the 2nd report on monitoring water consumption and the application of water efficiency measures prepared by the Energy Agency (ADENE), as part of the Algarve’s Commitment to Water Efficiency .

Among the more than 2,300 water efficiency measures selected by those participating in the plan coordinated by the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA), in conjunction with Turismo de Portugal and ADENE, interventions at the level of devices and irrigation systems, improvements in the management and maintenance system and in equipment are the most selected by tourism enterprises located in the Algarve region. More than half (53%) of these selected measures have already been implemented. Around 75% of those who sign up to the “Save Water” seal are concentrated in four Algarve municipalities – Albufeira, Loulé, Portimão and Lagoa –, which are also those with the largest number of beds available.

For André Gomes, president of RTA, “these results reflect the efforts of the tourism sector to combat water scarcity in the Algarve. Business owners are very mobilised to face this challenge. The Save Water seal was implemented in March and by July it already represented more than 30% of the beds available in tourist establishments in the region, which reflects the sector’s commitment to adopting measures and behaviours that allow saving this essential resource”, he highlights.

Dinosaur footprints discovered on Algarve beach

A site with 12 footprints from different dinosaurs is being revealed on Arrifes beach, in Albufeira, among other discoveries, elevating this location within the territory of the Algarvensis Geopark project to a global geosite, a researcher has revealed.

In addition to the set of 12 footprints, belonging to five dinosaurs from three different species, which roamed the area around 120 million years ago, Arrifes beach hides other treasures, invisible to the eyes of tourists who go swimming in the small cove whose sand almost disappears at high tide.

The scientific advisor of the Algarvensis Geopark project, Octávio Mateus, said that those rocks are recorded as being “a few million years old”, with marks of crustaceans, shells, whelks and single-celled beings, although the most impressive are the marks left by dinosaurs, in the lower Cretaceous period. Only accessible at low tide and to those willing to climb over rocks, the site with 12 footprints, some of which are in sequence and three-dimensional, reveals the presence of large sauropods, including brontosaurus, the long-necked dinosaurs popularised by cinema. But, this enormous dinosaur, whose footprints reach half a metre in length, is joined on this trail by small sauropods, also herbivores, and three carnivorous animals, all in a crack between two layers in the cliff, made when those rocks were still in a horizontal position.

120 million years ago, the footprints were imprinted in the mud, which was covered with limestone and sand, and after the sediment below had eroded, the natural shape of the footprint was left. The cliffs ‘rotated’ to their current position due to tectonic movement, explained the palaeontologist, a professor at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

“There are tectonic forces related to rock salt deposits, or by plates, crustal movements, causing it to fold and roll, and what was horizontal became vertical”, he explained, highlighting that this is a “major discovery”, which makes that beach a “geosite of global importance”.

At the beginning of the trail, a rock shows the seabed from a good few million years ago, bearing witness to the trail of crustaceans, similar to crabs and lobsters, which made galleries and excavated the sand which, over time, was filled with more sand. Further ahead, heading east, on the face of another cliff also threatened by the action of the sea, four footprints are revealed forming a trail, all measuring more than 20 centimetres, of an ornithopod dinosaur that would have been four metres long.

The first deposit had been documented since 2016, but had not been studied, work that is now being done as part of the application of the territory of Loulé, Albufeira and Silves to become a global geopark of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ).

However, discovering the “paternity” of the findings is not simple. “The current scientific coordinator of the Algarvensis Geopark, Paulo Fernandes said that it had been discovered during one of his field classes by a student, but the date is unknown. It must have been between 2014 and 2016. The sauropod footprints in the crevice were mentioned for the first time in a conference summary in 2016, but it doesn’t mention who discovered them,” said Octávio Mateus. However, as far as he knows, the ornithopod tracks are “absolutely new” and were discovered by him on June 12 this year.

Two men rob a nightclub in Loulé and flee on a motorbike

Two men robbed a nightclub in the parish of Boliqueime , in the municipality of Loulé, on Sunday the 11th, and fled the scene on a motorbike with money taken from a safe, a source from the GNR revealed .

“At around 9:00 am, two individuals, using physical force, managed to get the money that was in a safe to be handed over to them,” said a source from the Public Relations Department of the GNR’s Faro Territorial Command. The two men entered the nightclub, which was already closed, in a manner that the GNR is still investigating and, once inside the establishment, “they used force to get the money to be handed over to them”, he explained. The source was unable to specify the number of employees present at the establishment, but indicated that they did not require hospital assistance.

The robbers “fled on a motorbike”, with an amount of money yet to be determined, said the GNR source, confirming the existence of surveillance cameras at the site and that the case is already being investigated.

Three people died in the first three months of the bathing season

Three people died on Portuguese beaches in the first three months of this year’s bathing season, between May and July, with all cases occurring in the Algarve, and 403 rescues were recorded, the National Maritime Authority ( AMN ) recently revealed.

Since the last report up to June 30, which indicated two fatalities on Portuguese beaches, the AMN recorded another death on the supervised sea beach Maria Luísa, in Albufeira , which occurred on July 16 for “unknown causes”.

The other two deaths recorded since the start of the bathing season, on May 1, were also in the Algarve and both were due to “sudden illness”, with the first situation occurring on May 27 in an unsupervised maritime area in Algar de Benagil, in Lagoa, and the second on June 6 at the supervised maritime beach of Meia Praia, in Lagos, informed the Maritime Authority. In 2023, in the first three months of the bathing season, there were seven deaths on the beaches, four of which were due to drowning and three due to “sudden illness”.

In the three months that have passed since this year’s bathing season, between May 1 and July 31, in addition to three fatalities, the AMN recorded 403 rescues and 1,907 first aid actions on the sea and river or lake beaches under its jurisdiction.

According to the balance of the first two months of the bathing season, in which 133 rescues and 584 first aid actions were recorded, according to data from the Maritime Authority, in July 270 rescues and 1,323 first aid actions were carried out on Portuguese beaches.

The 2024 bathing season runs from May 1 to October 30, and municipalities may establish, within this period, the specific season for each area.

If you are going to the beach please be aware of all the dangers that could be around you and have a safe week.

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 21st August 2024

 

Good morning. We start and end with the Madeira fires which have been burning for eight days days. There has been widespread concern among the Madeira population and some firefighting experts that the Madeira government was slow to react when the fire broke out last Wednesday. Jorge Mendes, commander and specialist in Civil Protection, stated on Monday that:  “When we put off the problem, it leads us to scenarios like these.” He sees the current operational situation as the result of an “underestimation” of the first signs that this fire would reach dramatic proportions. It lead to the evacuation of several points in the Autonomous Region”.

He adds that “this fire had characteristics very similar to previous fires, the operational decision should have taken into account the historical assessment of Madeira, the temperature and the wind speed”. In this case, “it is not normal to have temperatures above 30 degrees and gusts of 65 km/h”. “All of this led us to believe that if there were a fire outbreak, we would have a lot of difficulties”.

The fire chief’s opinion is echoed by several other civil protection experts who note how there should have been a “more muscular” response in the first hours when the flames began to be contained in the high areas of Ribeira Brava, on Wednesday. However, the topography in Madeira is very steep, which makes accessibility very difficult if not impossible except by air, when wind conditions allow.

On the mainland we have become used to this “muscular approach”, where the response to fires is very quick with additional resources being deployed, to try and avoid fires increasing in intensity and spreading to a point when situation becomes out of control as is happening now in Madeiria. For the first day in the Madeira fire one helicopter (the only one available) with less than 20 operatives were deployed. The delay in the Madeira government accepting assistance offered by the mainland, allowed the fire to develop further.

The Minister of Internal Administration said yesterday the Government “will evaluate” the request for permanent reinforcement of aerial resources to fight fires in Madeira, but also highlighted that it is still premature to make this analysis. In SCP’s view the current situation of just one helicopter is totally inadequate! What would happened if it was down for maintenance or otherwise inoperable?

President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, defended, this Wednesday, the need to “lower the alarmist rhetoric” because the “situation is safe” and the authorities are “doing what they have to do” in fighting the fire that has been ravaging the region for about a week. No homes or infrastructures were destroyed, considering that, in the fight against the fire, “the results are positive”.

However the National Civil Protection Union today demanded accountability and calls for the resignation of the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service, António Nunes, and the regional secretary for Civil Protection, Pedro Ramos.

There is certainly a need for a review (as I am sure there will be), to address the effects of climate change with higher temperatures, more intense fires, to focus on preparedness and to enable a more muscular approach when fires ignite – as they will in the future.

Unfortunately there are many tourists who continue to disregard the signs that determine the closure of hiking trails due to the fires that are ravaging in Madeira. As previously reported, the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN) advises against traveling in mountain areas.

A reminder if you are visiting Madeira to download the Civil Protection recommend that you download their ProCiv Madeira (Emergency) App, especially with the RURAL FIRE situation at present. The Regional Civil Protection Service, IP-RAM, advises the entire population and visitors to download our application, considering it an added value in providing assistance.

When you call 112 via the app, the control centre will receive your last known position as well as a personalized profile for you. You will also be notified with recommendations for weather warnings and real-time information such as fires and road closures. More details here: https://www.procivmadeira.pt/pt/galeria-de-imagens-3.html?

 

News

Madeira fire analysis

Forest fire expert Domingos Xavier Viegas advocated the use of more aerial resources to combat fires like the one raging in Madeira, as well as more land resources to consolidate extinction.

Air combat must be carried out with at least pairs of planes, if possible more, so that there is a more frequent sequence of discharges and that allow the fire to be attacked and extinguished”, stressed, in statements to the Lusa news agency, the director of the Forest Fire Studies Laboratory.

When asked about the fire in Madeira , the expert stressed that a single combat air vehicle “loses effectiveness” in a fire that is difficult to access for ground vehicles and has several fronts, because while it goes to refuel after attacking one area of ​​the fire, the fire “continues to progress”.

Xavier Viegas also defended more land resources to “consolidate the extinction” of fronts that are being fought through the air.

If we don’t go there and complete the extinguishing process, which is carried out by air discharge with ground combat (…) that fire will quickly reignite because, even the chemical product that was released, after some time may lose its extinguishing capacity”, he stressed.

For the expert, “fighting has to be done by anticipating what the fire will do and trying to find containment zones that can help contain the fire”, pointing out that a fire that has been burning for “so many days certainly did not require many human resources, for the perimeter it has, of several kilometers”.

Another point of concern identified by the forest fire specialist is the “secondary outbreaks”, highlighting that, sometimes, the fire “may be descending a slope and spreading towards the opposite valley, with this outbreak rising with much greater intensity and, sometimes, upon reaching the top of the slope, it may even spread towards the next valley”.

Xavier Viegas also pointed out the climate change recorded in Madeira , with lower humidity and more periods of high temperatures, highlighting the importance of “cleaning vegetation, removing the most flammable vegetation and when this is not enough, complementing it with protective measures”.

The director of the Forest Fire Studies Laboratory also said that it is important to learn lessons from this “already large-scale fire”, to understand “to what extent everything possible is being done to prevent the fire from spreading, so that there are areas where it can be contained”.

Data from the European Forest Fire Information System, indicated by the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service, António Nunes, indicate that 4,392 hectares of area had been burned by 12:00 on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 21st August 2024

 

By our correspondent  in the Azores

 

Couple arrested in São Miguel with 38 kilos of drugs

The Judicial Police (PJ) announced that it carried out a police operation in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, which led to the arrest of a couple, due to strong evidence of drug trafficking, and the seizure of 37.3 kilos of hashish, 362 grams of heroin and 309 grams of cocaine that were in their possession.

Azorean firefighters are operating in Madeira

Azorean volunteers arrived in Madeira on Monday to fight the fire that broke out on the island last Wednesday. “A lot of burned area and difficult access” was the scene they found

The group of 15 Azorean firefighters arrived in Madeira at 2:00 am local time on Monday morning to help fight the fire that broke out last Wednesday in the neighbouring archipelago.

Coordinating Inspector Luís Martins, who is accompanying the Azorean firefighters in Madeira, describes the scene they found upon arrival: “a lot of burned area and very difficult access. The active fronts are not fronts with large flames, but they are always very difficult to access, going up or down the slopes.”

The Coordinating Inspector guarantees that all the elements that travelled to Madeira Island “have training in fighting rural fires, they have knowledge of this type of operations and some have even been here during the 2016 fires, and performed excellently.”

According to Luís Martins, the group of Azorean volunteers, which is based in the 3rd Garrison Regiment, located in Funchal, is working “in harmony with local entities”, more specifically with the local fire departments.

“Civil Protection assigned the mission, and we fulfilled that mission”, assures Luís Martins, adding that the operation is expected “to take an average of three to five days, but there is no information on a return date for now.”

“We are evolving in our operations and doing the best we can, according to what we are instructed to do,” he added.

“We will now carry out reconnaissance on land, together with the Joint Operational Force that is in Madeira”, concluded Luís Martins.

The fire continues to burn for the fifth consecutive day and currently has two active fronts in the municipalities of Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Brava.

Man attacked with a sharp weapon in Ponta Delgada

A 35-year-old man was attacked yesterday with a sharp weapon in Ponta Delgada, and was taken to the CUF Hospital, where the Emergency Department currently operates.

Three arrested for attempted murder in Ribeira Grande

The PSP arrested, this Friday morning, three individuals, suspected of attempting to commit murder, in the parish of Ribeirinha.

The case dates back to the early hours of August 4th, when the men, aged between 30 and 50, broke down the door of the victim’s house, a man in his 30s. Armed with baseball bats and knives, the trio violently attacked the victim, who was left prostrate and in need of hospital care.

The suspected attackers, who have criminal records for drug trafficking, left the scene without taking any property from the victim’s home, which appears to point to a crime involving a drug deal.

When called, the PSP carried out urgent investigations, having arrested the three suspects this morning, in compliance with a warrant issued by the Public Prosecutor of Ribeira Grande.

 

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 14th August 2024

 

By our correspondent in the Azores

 Video surveillance in the historic centre of Ponta Delgada awaits opinion

The installation of the video surveillance system in the historic centre of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, is awaiting the opinion of the National Data Protection Commission, the City Council says.

Azores under yellow warning given forecast of high temperatures

Maximum temperatures can reach 30 degrees and minimum temperatures can be around 24 degrees at night. The problem is that the temperature persists for a long time.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed the islands of the three groups of the Azores under yellow alert due to the forecast of high maximum temperatures between today and Thursday, as reported to the media.

We are expecting maximum temperatures to be around 29 degrees across the archipelago. Occasionally, they could reach 30 degrees in urban areas.

The IPMA indicated in a statement that the warning regarding “persistent high maximum temperature values” is in force between 12:00 today, Tuesday, and 11:00 on Thursday, the 15th, on all islands of the archipelago, in the Eastern, Central and Western groups.

Reopening of closed thermal areas in São Miguel depends on new analyses

The Regional Health Directorate of the Azores said this Friday that the reopening of the three thermal zones on the island of São Miguel, closed since July due to microbiological contamination, is dependent on the results of new analyses.

The thermal areas of Caldeira Velha, Poça da Dona Beija and Parque Terra Nostra, on the island of São Miguel, have been closed since July 26th, by decision of the health authorities, as water analyses showed “positive results for microbiological contamination”.

According to a statement from the Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security, in July, the Regional Health Directorate (DRS), in conjunction with the health authorities of Ribeira Grande and Povoação, and the Health Unit of Ilha de São Miguel, carried out an environmental investigation with water samples from the three locations.

The laboratory analysis of the collected samples was carried out by the National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) and, following the known results, the authorities decided to determine the immediate closure, exclude the public from the tank area, carry out a shock disinfection, carry out drainage, cleaning and disinfection of the equipment, among other measures.

After the tanks were filled, new analyses were carried out. The results, known between August 1st and 5th, indicated that the water samples from the Poça da Dona Beija, Parque Terra Nostra and Caldeira Velha pools presented “positive results, but with a significant decrease in the concentration of the previously identified microbiological agent (over 95% reduction)”.

“After a meeting involving several technical entities in the sector, the strategy presented by DRS was unanimously accepted, which is why the tanks were drained, cleaned and disinfected and the third [water] analyses were collected at these locations, on the 6th and 7th of August”.

According to the statement, “the results are expected to be received over the next week”.

“It was also agreed that, if the results continue to decline, it will be possible to reopen these spaces, respecting the rules for their use”, it states.

The DRS praises the “continuous commitment and collaboration of the entities managing the spaces” and highlights that, together with the health authorities of the Azores, “all measures” will be taken to defend Public Health in the region.

The note highlights that these water systems “offer ideal conditions for the colonization, multiplication and dissemination of some microbiological agents, namely bacteria”.

 

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report 13th August 2024

 

Good afternoon – Well it had to happen! And by this I am referring to the two fires in Braganca one at, Vimioso and the other at the Montesinho Natural Park, which have been burning since Saturday 10th August. The fires were initially contained but then re-ignited. At the time of writing both are now under conclusion.

Earlier the Civil protection authority announced preventive measures people should take over the following days, stating that they foresee: “the occurrence and spread of rural fires, highlighting “the increase in the difficulty of suppressing fires, especially in interior North and Centre and in the Algarve”.

This is a point that we have constantly stressed referring to the Fire Weather Index (FWI), which is an indicator of the potential intensity and spread of fires. This is why we publish on Facebook each morning the FWI map, which over the last few days has clearly shown the FWI at EXTREME level in the north east of the mainland Bragança and Guarda in particular.

The FWI indicates intensity of potential fires by combining the rate of fire spread with the amount of fuel being consumed, taking into account temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, precipitation, drought conditions, fuel availability, vegetation characteristics and topography.

Critical’ fires are defined as those covering an area greater than 10,000 ha and are challenging to extinguish until air temperatures fall and precipitation increases. They are typically associated with ‘extreme’ fire danger, which is an FWI of over 50. This is the case in the two fire areas concerned but the area burned is not known.

We cannot stress enough therefore the importance for everyone to study these maps and other information and be prepared. The fire in the Montesinho Natural Park resulted in environment has been destroyed comprising large area of scrubland, as well as chestnut and oak trees. The fire had threatened two villages but it was not necessary to evacuate the population.

On a more general note the number of rural fires reached its highest level this year in July, with 1,082 occurrences, almost double the 596 rural fires recorded in June, and was also responsible for the largest area burned this year. Even so, the 1,082 rural fires in July is well below the average for the decade 2014-2023 for the same period, which was 2,193.

Safe Communities receives many enquiries on all sorts of crime and civil protection matters. This include requests from people overseas claiming that they have been a victim of crime perpetrated in Portugal. For example the victim residing overseas claims that he/she is a victim of on-line fraud, the fraudster being in Portugal. Sometimes personal details of the alleged fraudster are provided. The victim then asks Safe Communities either to make a complaint to the police here on their behalf, or take other actions.

I need to make this clear that we are not a law enforcement agency nor do we conduct investigations of any sort, that is the work of the police!

We have discussed this with the relevant unit of the Judicial Police, and they have confirmed our understanding that if you are the victim of a crime whilst overseas, or living overseas, then you should report this to your local police station there. They are responsible for receiving the crime complaint and conducting investigations which could include contacting the police, through the official channels, in the country where the culprit may be living.

We wish you a safe week ahead.

News

Algarve’s Benagil caves with new access rules starting today

Lagoa, Faro, 13 Aug 2024 (Lusa) – The Benagil Caves, in the municipality of Lagoa, in the Algarve, have new access rules as of today, which include the prohibition of disembarking and swimming access to their interior.

The new measures, which aim to regulate the traffic of maritime-tourist vessels, private individuals and beach users, both in the water and in the vicinity of the Benagil cave and sinkhole, were published in an official notice on July 30.

It is now forbidden for individuals and companies to disembark or use the sand inside the Benagil cave, access to the caves by swimming or with flotation devices, and the rental of kayaks without a guide in the cave area.

There are also limits on the number of boats and kayaks inside the cave, maximum times for visits and a ratio of one guide kayak for every six kayaks with visitors for kayak tours in the area.

There are also provisions for administrative offences (fines), which in the most serious cases can reach up to 216,000 euros, for operators of maritime-tourist vessels who do not comply with the rules set out in the notice.

Located off Benagil beach, the caves are considered to be a relevant natural heritage site and one of the main tourist attractions in the Algarve, which, in the summer, has attracted the interest of more and more visitors, especially by sea.

The notice, which comes into force 10 working days after its publication, resulted from the work developed by the Benagil Caves Working Group, formed in August 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 7th August 2024

 

From our correspondent in the Azores

Yacht catches fire with seven people on board

A local yacht caught fire this on Monday 5 miles from Vila Franca do Campo. The seven crew members were rescued by a nearby maritime tourist vessel and are now ashore.

According to the captain of the Port of Ponta Delgada, Commander Rafael da Silva, the seven crew members “were unharmed, in good health and do not require medical care”.

According to information from the Maritime Authority, the fire on the 13-meter-long sailboat, based in the port of Vila Franca do Campo, is believed to have started in the engine room and was initially fought by the crew, but without success, having spread to the rest of the boat.

The presence of a maritime-tourist vessel in the vicinity made it possible to avoid greater harm: having spotted the column of black smoke – which was visible from land, according to several reports – it approached the sailboat and aided the crew, transporting them safely to land.

The alert was given via 112, at around 5:02 pm, to the Ponta Delgada Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, with the Volunteer Firefighters of Vila Franca do Campo taking over the fight against the flames with six operators, which were declared as “apparently extinguished” at 8:08 pm. “Despite the efforts made, the vessel ended up sinking at a depth of around 1,000 meters”, revealed Captain Rafael da Silva, adding that “Given the condition of the vessel at the time it sank, no pollution incidents are expected”.

 

Free minibus for students and over 65s

Starting this Friday, all students and people over 65 can travel on the minibus network for free.

The regulation exempting payment of the “student monthly pass” and “senior monthly pass 65+” for minibuses, from Ponta Delgada City Council, is now in force, after publication in the Official Gazette.

 

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 31st July 2024

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all. The next few weeks across the Algarve are full of festivals of all kinds which brings more visitors to the region. This week we have the start of the Sardine festival in Portimao and the Chicken festival in Guia as well as many more in the many villages and towns across the region. Travelling to and from these different places is becoming a difficult exercise for many as the main road through the region, the N125, is full to capacity during much of the day. We have seen a number of accidents in the past week which have resulted in the death of at least three people as well as other serious injuries. Having driven along this road quite extensively this week you can see that the idea of “patience” doesn’t seem to be part of many drivers’ thinking! Let’s hope that the next few weeks are not littered with more accidents and tragic loss of life. Remember, a few extra minutes getting to your destination can save your life as well as other road users.

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

Collision on EN 125 leaves two dead and one seriously injured

Two people died this Sunday, the 28th, in a collision between two cars, on the National Road (EN) 125, in Almancil, in the municipality of Loulé , revealed a source from Civil Protection.

According to a source from the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command, the accident, which occurred at around 6:22 am, also left one person seriously injured, who was taken to Faro hospital.

The accident, which occurred on the Troto Variant, caused the road to be closed in both directions. At 10:15 a.m., a team of 16 operators, supported by nine vehicles, were still on site.

This accident brings to three the number of deaths in road accidents that occurred over the weekend on the EN 125, in the Almancil area. On Saturday morning, a collision between a bus and a car had already caused the death of the driver of the light vehicle.

One dead in collision between bus and car in Almancil

A man died this Saturday, the 27th, in a collision between a bus and the car he was driving, on the National Road (EN) 125, in Almancil, in the municipality of Loulé , said a source from Civil Protection .

According to a source from the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command, the accident, which occurred at around 8:00 am, did not cause any injuries, and traffic was affected, with traffic being alternated.

The accident occurred in the Faro – Loulé direction. According to CM, the fatal victim is the Algarve musician Paul Camilo, 50 years old, guitarist of the band Karapaus Allimads.

Man arrested in Portimão for thefts from several establishments

The Faro PSP District Command , through the Criminal Investigation Squad of the Portimão Police Division, arrested a 35-year-old man, accused of committing several qualified thefts, it was announced today.

Following an investigation carried out over the last few months, it was possible to determine “that the suspect made a living by committing thefts in various commercial establishments, such as supermarkets, pharmacies and perfumeries, later exchanging the stolen items for narcotic products”, details the PSP in a statement.

“In order to put an end to these crimes and restore a sense of security to traders in the city of Portimão, the PSP carried out a swift investigation, which allowed the suspect to be identified, who was located and arrested yesterday,” the note continues. After the first judicial interrogation, he was given the coercive measure of preventive detention.

The PSP believes it has put an end to this criminal phenomenon, which had been causing some “uneasiness” among traders in the city of Portimão.

Three arrested for beach thefts in Portimao

The GNR arrested three men suspected of thefts, between Monday and Wednesday, in Portimão, as part of an investigation aimed at combating thefts in the Algarve’s beach areas, the security force announced.

The detainees are between 27 and 50 years old and were located by members of the Portimão Criminal Investigation Unit, “on the public highway”, and were “in possession of material to commit this type of theft” and “various stolen material, which is why they were detained”, the GNR said in a statement.

After approaching the detainees, a house search was carried out “which allowed the recovery and seizure of several items”, namely a vehicle, a camera, six cell phones, four computers, a drone, 950 euros, 15 Canadian dollars and 56 US dollars, two watches and several electronic components, he listed. “The action was reinforced by military personnel from the Lagoa Territorial Post and the Beja Traffic Detachment (DT), with two other individuals also being named as defendants,” he concluded.

Jail for ringleaders of gang that terrorised immigrants in OIhão

The two main ringleaders of a gang of young teens that terrorised Indian and Nepalese immigrants in the Algarve town of Olhão last year have both been sentenced to seven years in prison (one year of which will be commuted due to the recent papal amnesty).

Both youths, now aged 17, have been held in preventive custody since their arrests last year. A third teen, also arrested last year and equally charged with aggravated assault, violent damage and theft, was handed a five year sentence, suspended – while a fourth youngster was found not guilty of all counts against him.

Defence lawyer André Caetano has commented that the sentences for the ringleaders, in his opinion, are still “very heavy”. “We are going to appeal”, he told Correio da Manhã.

For the time being, the 17-year-olds will continue to remain in preventive custody, serving their time in Leiria’s prison establishment for young people.

The panel of judges considered the behaviour of all the youngsters involved to have been “repugnant and very serious”.This was an incident that became nationally notorious, as images of the attacks were widely shared online.

President Marcelo travelled down to Olhão to personally apologise to one of the immigrants at the time.

 

Navy seizes fishing gear in Algarve marine park

The Portuguese Navy announced on Tuesday that it found and removed 59 cage traps from the Algarve Marine Natural Park – Pedra do Valado, where the use of this kind of fishing gear is prohibited. The Navy said in a statement that the fishing gear was detected on Monday during a maritime patrol and surveillance operation in the recently created marine reserve off the coast of Albufeira, Lagoa, and Silves.

As fishing is prohibited  in the marine reserve, the Navy collected the cage traps at the behest of Portimão’s port captain. In its statement, the Navy stressed that using this type of fishing gear can be detrimental to the “development of corals on the rocky bottom, as it significantly affects the conservation of biodiversity” in an area which is meant to be protected. The Algarve Marine Natural Park – Pedra do Valado was created in January this year to protect biodiversity and promote the sustainable management of resources.

The reserve is one of the richest areas in terms of biodiversity in Portugal and is also the largest coastal reef in the Algarve and one of the largest in Portugal, with natural values considered unrivalled along the national coast.

The Natural Park comprises the area between the Alfanzina Lighthouse, in the municipality of Lagoa, and the Albufeira marina, totalling an area of approximately 156 square kilometres.

At Pedra do Valado, 889 of the 1,294 species of fauna and flora found on the Algarve coast were identified, 24 of which have protected status, with the discovery of 45 new species for Portugal and 12 new species for science that are not known elsewhere, according to the website of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR).

All human activities, including fishing and recreational boating, are prohibited on the site.

Albufeira tourism behaviour campaign starts 

An awareness campaign on rules and behaviours starts today, 29th July in Albufeira, the local authority announced. In a note, the Municipality stresses that it is working on several fronts with a view to “disciplining” behaviours in public spaces, so that “the good image of Albufeira is restored, both to the satisfaction of residents and tourists”, explains José Carlos Rolo.

The mayor points out the problem of certain groups, “but it cannot be generalised, as the behaviour of some cannot be taken as a reflection of the identity of any country”.

Seven actions are underway, such as a behavioural awareness campaign, using billboards, posters, a brochure and other materials; a campaign to promote the destination is also being carried out in partnership with the company IPDT- Turismo; 70 video surveillance cameras are being installed; human surveillance has already been increased in the areas of Oura and the “downtown” part of the city, with the help of the Firefighters Association, the Portuguese Red Cross, the GNR, the Municipal Civil Protection Service and the Municipal Police, as well as other law enforcement agencies. In addition, a new code of behaviour is being drawn up, which should be completed by the end of this summer; the draft amendment to the Municipal Noise Regulation is being reviewed; and finally, the proposal to revise the Municipal Regulations for the Operation of Establishments will be presented at the Council Meeting tomorrow. As regards the behavioural awareness campaign, the distribution of flyers, stickers and a brochure has already begun. According to the local authority, Albufeira now has more security, surveillance and inspection agents on the streets, “for a faster and more effective response to any problem that arises”, day or night.

“The less than positive image of Albufeira must change very soon and I will not allow any lack of respect for our work, neither for the leisure of our tourists, nor for the work of all those who live in Albufeira, regardless of their origin or social status”, says the mayor.

José Carlos Rolo also requested the help of the British Consulate to implement campaigns and actions in Albufeira, as are done in other countries, with a view to “ensuring greater security, comfort and satisfaction for all tourists, who are also disturbed by the widespread perception of a less than positive image of their identity, when Albufeira’s relations with the entire United Kingdom have always been, and throughout many years of history, one of great cordiality and mutual admiration”.

In addition to all this, tendering procedures are also underway for more and better lighting in certain public places, especially in the coastal area, an increase in the number of litter bins on the streets and more cleaning professionals, and noise monitoring has already begun on some streets.

Until the next time stay safe



 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 31st July 2024

Overnight stays in tourist accommodation in the Azores increased by 9.4% in June

The Azores recorded around 473 thousand overnight stays in tourist accommodation in June, 9.4% more than in the same period last year, according to estimates from the Regional Statistics Service (SREA) released this Monday.

Applications open for special travel arrangements for higher education students

Applications for the special travel regime for students entering higher education outside São Miguel Island for the first time are open until August 15th, Ponta Delgada City Council says.

Apartments cost 900 euros/m2 more ten years later

The median value of apartments per square meter in the Azores in June 2024 more than doubled in a decade, being 903 euros higher than in September 2014

The median value of bank appraisals for apartments in the Autonomous Region of the Azores was 1,684 euros per square meter (euros/m2) in June 2024, an assessment that more than doubled in a decade, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), consulted by Açoriano Oriental.

Compared to September 2014 (INE does not present data for June 2014), the median value of bank appraisals for apartments in June of this year was 903 euros/m2 higher, which translates into an increase of 215.6%.

Ryanair intends to reopen base in Ponta Delgada

About a month ago, Ryanair sent the Government of the Republic a plan to significantly increase the airline’s presence in Portugal by 2030, which, according to the newspaper Eco, foresees the reopening of the Ponta Delgada base, in São Miguel.

The plan foresees “doubling the number of routes to more than 320, adding 16 new planes (an investment of 1.6 billion dollars) to the operation, reopening the Ponta Delgada base, reducing seasonality in Faro, Ponta Delgada and Funchal and creating 500 jobs”.

At a press conference held yesterday in Lisbon, Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary said he wanted to double the number of passengers transported in Portugal to 27 million, but he is demanding an increase in the number of slots in Lisbon and state incentives to reduce airport taxes.

Three thermal areas closed on the island of São Miguel due to suspected contamination

The Regional Health Directorate of the Azores today ordered the closure of three thermal spas on the island of São Miguel to the public, due to laboratory tests that indicate results “compatible with microbiological contamination”, the regional executive reported.

The decision was taken after the Regional Health Directorate carried out an environmental investigation, with the collection of thermal waters, in Caldeira Velha, Poça da Dona Beija and Parque Terra Nostra, on the island of São Miguel.

“The laboratory analysis of the samples collected was carried out by INSA [National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge], with the results being compatible with microbiological contamination,” the note reads.

Thus, “good Public Health practices dictate that, when the result of a microbiological analysis of water is unfit for its intended purpose, measures must be taken to guarantee the safety of the population”.

Applying the “Precautionary Principle”, the Azorean executive reports that it has determined the application of several measures in the three identified locations, such as their closure and excluding the public from the tank area.

It was also decided to carry out a “shock disinfection”, drain, clean and disinfect the tanks and accessories, and review the control and risk assessment measures.

It was also determined to carry out new analyses after filling the tanks and to keep the spaces closed “until the risk assessment has yielded satisfactory results”.

“These instructions were given to the entities managing the spaces in question, who are collaborating actively and committedly”, guarantees the Regional Government of the Azores.

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 31st July 2024

Good morning. We start with some sad news and that is a nine-year-old girl has died following an attack in northwest England, police confirm, raising the death toll to three children from the stabbings at a yoga and dance class. All three victims were girls and five children and two adults remain in a critical condition.

Portugal Communities Minister Jose Cesario has confirmed that a nine-year-old Portuguese girl Alice Aguiar, originally from Madeira, had been killed in the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop on Hart Street in Southport on Monday. This is a simply a horrific and senseless attack and our condolences go the families and friends of the victims. Typical of social media, a name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport,” police said on Tuesday. “This name is incorrect and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.”

Also on the subject of violence, four young Dutch holidaymakers were violently stabbed in the early hours of Monday morning in Albufeira. A fifth received light stab wounds. All were transported to hospital. Literally within hours of the minister of interior administration visiting the town grappling to control anti-social “excessive behaviour”, this latest incident occurred – again in the ‘incident blackspot’ of downtown Oura.

According to reports, the young group of Dutch – aged between 17 and 21 – were returning to their holiday village in the early hours when they “started to complain because of the loud music coming from one of the apartments. “The aggressors, holidaymakers from the Republic of Ireland, allegedly went to get knives and attacked the victims”. Emergency services were quickly called to the scene: 32 operatives and 12 vehicles from the fire stations of Albufeira and Messines, as well as INEM medical response and GNR police. Three knives were “seized”. PJ police are now investigating. This will do nothing to improve the reputation of this part of Albufeira which has developed a reputation for late night disturbances over several years. Planning is at an advance stage to install 70 CCTV cameras, to help provide a deterrence, enforcement and monitoring the situation.

Google’s forest fire mapping tool, which is based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology, is being launched in 15 new countries in Europe, including Portugal, and Africa the technology company announced yesterday. According to estimates, “the European territory prone to fires has doubled in the last 50 years”, says Yossi Matias, vice president and head of Google Research, in a post on the Google Portugal blog. This will particulary assist those travellers through these countries being able to identify major fires along their planed route and therefore avoid them. Safe Communities has issued, on Facebook, details of how to access this through Google Maps. An excellent and well needed initiative. https://portugal.googleblog.com/?

The ANSR Road Safety association ANSR launches the “Safe the Holidays” campaign, which runs until September 1st and aims to raise awareness among drivers about the need to ensure their road safety, as well as of everyone who travels on the road. Being this time of the year when there is an increase in travel on Portuguese roads, ANSR calls for everybody’s cooperation in adopting safe behaviours: Perform vehicle maintenance before departure; Respect the speed limits; If you drink, don’t drive; Don’t distract yourself with your mobile phone; Always wear your seatbelt; Respect the safety distances and stop for a rest on long journeys.

Our team wish everyone a safe week ahead,

News

Defence Minister highlights the role of the armed forces in preventing fires

Marinha Grande, Leiria, 30 Jul 2024 (Lusa) – The Minister of defence today highlighted the role of the Armed Forces in preventing and detecting rural fires, after monitoring a patrol in the national forest, in Marinha Grande.

“The military is not in the barracks, they are working every day for the benefit of the population. This applies to fire prevention, search and rescue operations, medical emergencies, organ transportation, and combating human trafficking and drug trafficking,” Nuno Melo told reporters.

For the Minister of Defence, the “Armed Forces are always there and that is very relevant”.

Nuno Melo explained that the role of the military is to “detect fires, in collaboration with the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests [ICNF], together with other entities, so that, in an articulated manner, this mission is more effective”, so that at the end of the fire season “they have not happened”.

And if they didn’t happen, it’s because “there was prevention and this prevention takes a lot of work and involves a lot of investment and a lot of coordinated effort”.

According to the data presented, there are 32 patrols monitoring the forest territory, supporting the ICNF. “We also have engineering detachments, which are essential for shaping the terrain so that firefighters can attack the fire itself. Then we have our platoons, which do the aftermath, surveillance and mitigate possible rekindling”, explained Colonel Tiago Lopes, commander of the Military Emergency Support Unit.

Nuno Melo stressed that his presence on one of the patrols is a way of showing the Portuguese that “in times of peace, the military performs multiple tasks for the daily benefit of the population and among these tasks, fire prevention actions”.

“And when fires do not occur in Portugal, it is often precisely because the armed forces, along with other entities, are committed to these actions, which are fundamental”, stressed the minister.

Bathing and fishing banned in the Douro due to pollutant discharge after fire in Porto

Bathing and recreational fishing were prohibited this Tuesday as a precaution between the cement pier and the mouth of the Douro, in Porto, due to the discharge of polluting materials into the Granja River caused by the fire in the Nors group.

“An edict was published prohibiting bathing and recreational fishing along the entire stretch, from the cement pier [near the Casa d’Oro restaurant] to the mouth of the Douro River as a precaution”, said today the captain of the Port and local commander of the Douro and Leixões Maritime Police.

Speaking to journalists at Largo do Calém, where work is underway to clean the waters due to the discharge of polluting materials from the fire that occurred on Monday in the industrial area of ​​Porto, Silva Lampreia stated that the ban “does not affect any river beach” . The ban covers a stretch of approximately 2.7 kilometres.

Porto City Council is trying to minimize the effects of the discharge of polluting materials into the mouth of the Granja River and consequently into the Douro River, estimating that cleaning work will be completed on Wednesday.

The fire affected the offices of Auto Sueco Portugal, Aftermarket Portugal and Amplitude Seguros, companies in the Nors group.