Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 12th April 2023
Good morning – Yesterday we published March’s climate report, the drought report for the same month and weather forecasts for the month of April leading to 7th May.
The climate report for March showed a dryer and warmer month compared with average. The drought report showed an increase in the drought situation with parts of the south at severe drought, but nowhere near the extent of the month March 2022, where most of the mainland was at either moderate or severe drought. This was amplified by the IPMA yesterday stating that mainland Portugal is experiencing a heat wave that will only end this Tuesday and which, in some places, has lasted for 10 days.
So much for now, but what for the weeks ahead? Unfortunately the situation is not good with the forecast weather showing virtually no rain throughout April and with temperatures well above average. Whereas this may be good for tourism and visits to beaches for example, there is a major downside and that is rural fires. Reading the various announcements over the last week or so, it is clear that this year we will face many challenges which the Minister of Internal Administration has described as more complicated than last year.
It is important therefore that those who are living in rural areas, especially high risk areas, are aware of the situation, are prepared and know what action to take should a fire breaks out. Although some areas are more prone to fires it is not possible to anticipate exactly when and where they will take place. How advanced technology can certainly help and this is why it is extremely important to study the daily fire risk map together with the Fire Hazard (FWI) map which, is available on our Facebook page.
The FWI chart is most important as it gives an indicator of the ease in which fires can start and intensity in which they can potentially spread. At level 64 and above they are described as “extremely dangerous fires which are difficult to control”. This is not to frighten people, but to give communities a realistic assessment of what to expect should a fire occur in these conditions.
Apart from following the fire risk and weather conditions, it is important to complete land cleaning – time is running out and the deadline 30th April is approaching! In the last few days fire risks have been at “very high” or maximum” in some areas which means one cannot use motorised garden equipment to clean land nor obtain “authorisation to burn cut and piled waste. If the risks remain similar then there is precious little time to complete land cleaning putting your home potentially at risk. We stress NOT to leave this to the last minute!
Going from fires to water, it has been disturbing to read of the number of drownings and sea rescue over the last week or so, which my colleague Mike Evans, has mentioned in his Algarve report today. It is disturbing to note that virtually all drownings are preventable, by understanding the risks, for example of rip currents; the presence of rocks below water level when diving of cliffs. Remember if you do get into difficulty rescuers may also be putting their lives at risk, in order to try and save you. We frequently warning people of the hazards so we ask everyone to take note and follow the advice.
For those visiting beaches and the countryside the careless discarding of glass items such as beer bottles, for example, poses not only a safety risk, but also a fire risk as well. Unfortunately beer bottles, and other glass items thrown from cars, laying along the road side, discarded on beaches posing a safety risk to people including children or left in areas used by those undertaking outdoor leisure activities. With the hot weather upon us it is important to send the following message –Please take your garbage with you or use the bins provided.
For those on holiday here this Easter please have a great stay and keep safe
News
PJ detains 15 suspects of being part of a transnational money laundering scheme
Porto, 11 Apr 2023 (Lusa) – The Judiciary Police (PJ) today arrested 15 people from north to south of the country allegedly involved in a transnational money laundering scheme and are therefore indicted for money laundering and qualified and computer fraud, said this police force .
In a statement, the PJ said that at stake will be a money laundering scheme of a transnational nature that aims to hide, convert and integrate into the legitimate economy sums from different types of scams, the injured parties being, as a rule, national citizens.
“Victims, through deceit and conscious error, gave up sums that they transferred to third-party accounts, supposed suppliers of goods and services or credit intermediaries, which were followed by other financial movements that aimed to create a curtain over those who proceeded to the final integration in the real economy, already in third countries (Benin and Lithuania), leaving the ‘clean’ advantages for the organization”, he explained.
Likewise, added the PJ, credit cards and account transaction credentials were sent to these countries, with the organization subsequently operating from there.
Following the investigation, the PJ arrested 15 people of Portuguese nationality between 25 and 60 years old and with different occupations.
According to this police force, the suspects used this illicit activity as a way of life, having a different degree of knowledge regarding the practice of the facts given the functions they occupied in the structure of the alleged organization.
In addition to the 15 detainees, the PJ seized, within the scope of 36 house searches carried out from north to south of the country, diverse documentation, computer material, bank and telecommunications cards.
The operation, nicknamed “Do not pass cards”, involved 180 elements.
The suspects will now be present at the first judicial interrogation at the Porto Criminal Investigation Court (TIC) for the application of coercive measures.
Faro Hospital? Independent commission will analyse alleged negligence
The Chairman of the Order of Doctors reacts to reports of several cases of medical error and negligence registered at the Surgery Service of Hospital de Faro between January and March of this year.
Chairman of the Order of Doctors, Carlos Cortes, announced this Tuesday that, following the meeting held with the Minister of Health, Manuel Pizarro, a technical-scientific commission will be set up composed of “independent medical experts who will evaluate the reports” of alleged cases of medical error and negligence registered at the Surgery Service of Hospital de Faro between January and March of this year.
In the context of that meeting, “several subjects” were placed on the table”, but this was considered a “priority” topic, explained the newly elected President.
“We agreed to create a technical-scientific commission of independent medical experts who will evaluate the complaints”, elaborated Carlos Cortes, on the subject.
The announcement by the Chairman of the Order of Doctors comes after Diana Pereira de Carvalho, an internal physician at the Hospital de Faro, accused the former training supervisor and the director of the Surgery Service of the Hospital de Faro of several cases of recorded error and negligence. in that hospital unit between January and March of this year.
The mistakes were allegedly made by Diana’s former supervisor, who is a surgeon. The inmate speaks of 11 cases of negligence that she reported to the Judiciary Police, but also to the Medical Association, the Health Regulatory Entity (ERS), and the Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS). But, in addition to the doctor in question, the young woman also denounced the director of the service, for not having chosen to file a complaint or remove the surgeon in question.
Following the complaints, the Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into these alleged cases of errors and negligence in the surgery service at Hospital de Faro denounced by Diana Pereira de Carvalho, as announced by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) .