Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 4^th October 2023

Good morning. Once again the focus is on the high temperatures currently being experienced. This has several implications: firstly contributing to the drought situation; secondly contributing to rural fires and thirdly affecting the health of people particularly those who are vulnerable.

It is still too early to consider that Portugal is going through a heat wave because, technically, to do so requires maximum temperatures to be at least 5º C above average for six consecutive days for the time of year, but everything indicates that term can be used in next two days. But there’s more: thermometers will still reach higher values ​​at the end of the week and indications are for 35C in Lisbon – remember this is October.

The anomaly is up to seven, eight or nine degrees. We have temperatures above average for this time of the year and this will continue in the coming days. For example in Bragança temperatures reached 31.4º C on Sunday. “It is well above average, because the normal temperature for this time of year is 21º C”.

Now the drought situation: comparing water storage at the end of September 2023 with the storage averages for the month of September in previous years (1990/91 to 2021/22), a worrying situation is observed. Most river basins have storage levels below historical averages for this month. The basins of Vouga (68.4%), Sado (37.1%), Mira (31.3%), Arade (27.2%), Ribeiras do Barlavento (7.8%) and Ribeiras do Sotavento (28 .2%) are particularly below average.

Along with Portugal, neighbouring Spain is in an even more critical situation, which could have more serious consequences on the national territory, in the medium and long term. Scarce water resources and lack of significant precipitation have seriously affected several regions. However, Portugal continues to feel the impacts of the imminent drought. In particular, the Algarve region, for example, faces structural problems of lack of water, and the lack of investment in sustainable solutions is a cause for concern.

It is important to conserve water and we have produced tips how this can be done which we publish regularly on this Facebook page. Firstly is to turn off the tap while you are not using the water; secondly during your hygiene, while brushing your teeth, washing your hands, hair or body. In the shower while soaping or shampooing, the tap can be turned off and if in the kitchen, if you have to wash the dishes by hand, do it without running water, use the dishwashing sink and/or a double bowl if you have one . These are just three of the basics. We will be including these on our website shortly.

The other implication is rural fires. As we have repeated stressed before it is not the weather that causes fires, it is mainly humans. However, dry and hot weather with accompanying winds certainly impact how easily fires can ignite, as well as their intensity and the speed at which they can spread. We have seen this in the last week with two large fires one in Viseu and the second in Aljezur. In respect to the second, the metrological warning signs were there the day before so it is not surprising to us that there was a fire. This is an example of studying weather forecasts and government warnings so that you are prepared.

Thirdly is the health risk from such high temperatures and again the effects on those who are vulnerable. The risks are regularly published by DGS as well as Civil Protection, together with advice to help stay safe so it is important to follow these. They are also on our website. These include trying to keep the heat out of your home, closing the blinds or shutters and keep air circulating inside the house; keeping the house as cool as possible and avoid using the oven. Other tips include: drink water or fresh, sugar-free fruit juices and avoid drinking alcohol; avoiding direct exposure to the sun, especially between 11 am and 5 pm and wearing loose (cotton) clothing that keeps most of your body covered, as well as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Again the full list can be found on our website.

News

Activists block traffic on the Second Circular in Lisbon

Lisbon, 03 Oct 2023 (Lusa) – A group of young activists from the Climáximo movement today temporarily blocked traffic on the Second Circular, in Lisbon, next to the Galp offices, in a protest against the use of fossil fuels.

According to the movement, at around 9am today, ten activists sat on the floor of the Second Circular, next to the Lisbon Towers, while two others hung with ropes from the pedestrian bridge.

Videos and photographs of the protest, which are circulating on social media, show demonstrators in protest, holding signs calling for the end of fossil fuels, with phrases such as “They are destroying everything you love” or “Governments and companies have declared war on society and the planet.”

During the protest, which lasted a few minutes, the protesters managed to block traffic in the Benfica-Airport direction.

“Several activists were taken from the site by the PSP, while firefighters were called to remove the hanging activists,” says the Climáximo movement, in a statement sent to newsrooms.

The spokesperson for the action, Noah Zino, recalled today that “2021 emissions condemned nine million people to death” and that “every two days, emissions from Portugal alone kill more than the fires in Pedrógão”.

“Governments and companies have known for decades about the destruction and death of the climate crisis, and have chosen to continue burning fossil fuels, despite there being cheaper and safer alternatives available,” the spokesperson added.

Last week, climate activists took advantage of a conference where the Minister of the Environment, Duarte Cordeiro, was present, at whom they threw green paint and, the following day, they threw red paint at the facade of the FIL building, where an aviation conference was taking place.