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.