Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 5^th April 2023

Good morning – On Monday the Minister of Internal Administration (MAI) warned that 2023 will be “even more difficult” than 2022 in fighting forest fires, asking people and institutions to prepare.

“What I can say is that for all the indicators we have today, the year 2023 will be even more difficult than the year 2022 was”, said José Luís Carneiro to journalists adding that everyone has to do their part. “We have to prepare, we are preparing, but it is clear that the means are always limited in emergency circumstances and what we have to do is each one’s part”, he stressed.

Although some may dismiss this as a political statement, it was the same Minister who last year warned that forthcoming heatwaves would be more severe in 2022 than that of 2017 – and he was right.

What the Minister is in effect saying that there is only so much the government can do to prevent and fight fires when they occur – and since 2017 they have done a great deal. However extreme weather conditions have increased and as a result there is the potential for fires to burn with greater intensity putting larger areas at risk.

All of us in the community have a role to play. Firstly land cleaning. Remember land cleaning must be completed by 30th April 2023. Doing this will reduce the risk of a fire affecting your home. Institutions as well must carry out land cleaning close to roads and either side of power cables etc.

We all know that fire fighters and I mean by that all entities involved: Bombeiros, GNR, Forest Sappers, aircraft pilots and the civil protection special force do an incredible job, as a team, in fighting fires – BUT resources are finite and in major fires there cannot be a “fire fighter behind every tree.”  If there is a fire, therefore, knowing what steps to take before fire fighters arrive is vitally important and can save casualties.

The minister’s statement reinforces the repeated advice, since the beginning of the year, that Safe Communities Portugal has provided through: the media, Facebook, radio and through our newsletter. Be aware and be prepared!

It is important to check if you are living in a high risk area. Use this link to monitor your area’s risk:

https://www.ipma.pt/en/riscoincendio/rcm.pt/

If you are in a high risk area, we advise you to formulate a plan by having an emergency kit in case you have to leave home quickly. In such circumstances it is very important to follow the instructions of the emergency services, especially in cases of preventive evacuations. Most people underestimate the intensity of wildfires and deciding to remain at home and defend your property could be a fatal mistake!

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of those living in rural areas of understanding the risks (risk awareness) and following advice of the authorities which we promote.

With Easter approaching there will be many more tourists and with the forecasts pointing to higher temperatures over the Easter weekend there is likely to be many more people using the beaches. We wish to stress the importance therefore of beach safety especially as most beaches at this time of the year do not have lifeguards.

Be particularly aware of dangerous cliffs which are well sign posted and be on the lookout for rip currents – something we have emphasised in our Facebook posts. Please keep an eye on young children in particular and ensure they keep away from the water edge unless accompanied. Tragically over the years there have been several pool deaths in villas so please keep an eye on children and do not leave them alone near pools. Our team at Safe Communities Portugal wish everyone a very Safe and Happy Easter.

News

Portuguese F-16 fighter jets intercepted Russian military aircraft in the Baltic Sea

Lisbon, 04 Apr 2023 (Lusa) – Two Portuguese F-16 fighters identified and escorted a Russian military aircraft IL-76 off the coast of Estonia, on the Baltic Sea, on Sunday, as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, announced this Monday at the Atlantic Alliance.

The Russian aircraft was flying from mainland Russia to the enclave of Kaliningrad over international waters off Estonia’s Baltic Sea coast, NATO explained in a statement posted on its website.

“Since there was no flight plan, neither was the plane in contact with air traffic control nor was it using its transponder, NATO’s Northern Combined Air Operations Center in Uedem, Germany, ordered the F-16s to be launched and confirmed the details of the unknown aircraft”, detailed the Atlantic Alliance.

The Portuguese fighters, which had the first alert output on their second day of the mission, were launched from Šiauliai, in Lithuania.

“After identifying and escorting the Russian plane, the Portuguese fighters safely returned to Šiauliai. This was a routine event,” he added.

For the commander of the Portuguese detachment, Lieutenant Colonel José Dias, quoted in the statement, the operation was a demonstration of “the excellent commitment, dedication and professionalism of all the elements that make up the detachment.”

Portugal leads the 62nd rotation of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. Four F-16s arrived early last week and assumed responsibility for protecting NATO’s regional airspace alongside the F-16s of the Romanian Air Force on March 30, the Atlantic Alliance added.

Since the accession of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2004, NATO allies have taken turns deploying an air policing capability to Šiauliai to protect the territorial integrity of the three Baltic allies in a strong demonstration of Alliance cohesion and solidarity, he added. the organization.

Submarine ‘Arpão’ leaves Tuesday for 120-day mission in the South Atlantic

Lisbon, 03 Apr 2023 (Lusa) – The Navy announced today that the  submarine ‘Arpão’ leaves Tuesday from the Lisbon Naval Base to participate in the ‘Mar Aberto’ initiative in the South Atlantic, until the beginning of August, with a crew of 35 soldiers.

In a statement, the branch details that this will be the first Portuguese submarine to carry out a mission of this type, “also being the first time that a national submarine crosses the Equator” which put “the operational logistical capacity of the Navy to the test.”

The ‘Mar Aberto 23.2’ initiative aims to “develop bilateral and multilateral cooperation actions, and naval presence and diplomacy, namely within the scope of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, Coordinated Maritime Presences in the Gulf of Guinea and the ‘5+5 Defense’ Initiative ‘, with Morocco.”

“During this period, the ‘Arpão’ submarine also contributes to maritime security in an area of ​​operations located in the South Atlantic Ocean, between the coast of Brazil and the West African coast,” said the Navy.

For 120 days, the submarine will visit two continents and five countries: Cape Verde, Brazil, South Africa, Angola and Morocco, “traveling more than 13,000 miles, totaling around 2,500 hours of navigation.”

The garrison will be commanded by the frigate captain Taveira Pinto.

“The ‘Arpão’ mission will contribute to the strengthening of military and diplomatic cooperation relations between Portugal and each of the countries visited, with special focus on the celebrations of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities, which this year takes place in Africa do Sul and will be attended by His Excellency the President of the Republic,” reads the statement.

The Navy also points out that the “operational characteristics of the submarine give it the capacity to carry out discreet patrols at any time of the year and in any place, thus guaranteeing that the waters under national sovereignty or jurisdiction, or any other where its presence is required, may have an extra guarantee of navigation safety”.