The Algarve Report Thursday 31st October 2024
by Mike Evans
A very good day to you all. As with last week’s introduction, the subject of Water is still very much in the minds of the people and legislatures of the Algarve. Despite the first real signs of rainfall the news from the area is not looking better. According to a report by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), only five of the 16 municipalities in the Algarve reduced water consumption in September, municipalities that still fell short of the 10% reduction target. According to data from the most recent Water Observatory in the Algarve, dated September 30, that month there was “a decrease in the performance of the 16 municipalities” in the region, in terms of compliance with the 10% reduction in urban consumption defined in June by the Government.
The five Algarve municipalities that reduced water consumption in September, compared to the same period in 2023, were Lagoa, Tavira, Vila Real de Santo António, Alcoutim and Castro Marim, having, however, fallen “short of the 10% reduction target”, “With regard to accumulated urban consumption between January and September [2024], there was a reduction in the region of 8.0%, which translates into savings of around 4.7 million cubic metres, compared to the reference period [January to September 2023]”,
In the Algarve region, since May 2022, water storage levels in reservoirs have been below 50%, with the lack of replenishment during wet periods generating a continuous deficit in the use of available surface and groundwater.
The current situation of water reserves in the Algarve region, particularly in 2022 and 2023, in which values were recorded below the 20th percentile, determines that current water uses “cannot be adequately satisfied with existing reserves in surface and groundwater”, states the APA. “The rainfall that occurred during the months of March and April allowed an increase in the volumes stored in the reference reservoirs in the Algarve region, allowing, between January 1st and April 30th, an increase in the stored volume by a further 84 cubic hectometres (hm3)”, he adds. According to the APA, this situation “makes it possible, albeit cautiously, to reduce the level of reduction in volumes allocated for different uses and ecological flows without, however, neglecting that at the end of December 2024 the useful volume stored in the reservoirs guarantees one year of public supply”.
Twelve districts on the mainland will be under a yellow warning this Wednesday and Thursday due to the forecast of showers, which could sometimes be heavy and accompanied by thunderstorms, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
We can but hope that the expected rainfall in the next couple of weeks helps ease the situation.
Now a look at some of the other stories around the region this week.
GNR Arrest Man in Portimão for Drug Dealing
The National Republican Guard (GNR) arrested a 37-year-old man this Friday for drug trafficking, in the parish of Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo, in the municipality of Tavira. The arrest took place as part of a road inspection operation. The man was found to be carrying money and several types of drugs.
“The arrest took place as part of a road inspection operation, during which the Guard’s military personnel, upon approaching the driver, identified a quantity of a narcotic product in his possession”, explains the GNR in a statement.
During the operation, the military confirmed that they were dealing with 36 individual doses of cocaine, which resulted in their immediate arrest and a search of the vehicle, where 339.90 euros in cash, a mobile phone and a light vehicle were seized.
During the investigation, a search was carried out at the detainee’s residence, where more narcotics and other objects of criminal relevance were found, culminating in the seizure of 208 doses of cocaine, 120 doses of hashish, two doses of marijuana, five rounds of ammunition, a mobile phone, 160 euros in cash and packaging bags and cutting material for individualising the doses.
The detainee was brought before the Loulé Judicial Court, and was subject to the coercive measures of weekly periodic presentations and a ban on contact with individuals associated with drug use.
Albufeira Rally to be held this weekend
The Albufeira Municipal Rally is back on the road, on the 2nd and 3rd of November, for what will be the seventh edition. This will mean some road closures so make sure you are aware if they are close to you.
The event, which is an initiative of the Clube Automóvel do Sul with support from the Municipality, under the auspices of the Portuguese Automobile and Karting Federation, counts towards the Start Sul Rally Championship and the 2RM Start Sul Rally Championship.
The competition kicks off on Saturday the 2nd, with the night-time Super Special. Avenida dos Descobrimentos was once again the chosen stage for the tests and demonstrations of tricks, drifts and acrobatics, which begin at 9pm, between the Albufeira Fire Station intersection and the Relógios roundabout, covering a distance of over 2 kilometres.
On Sunday, the 3rd, the 35 registered drivers will compete in three stages. In the parish of Ferreiras, the Rally will take place at 10:04, 12:05 and 14:06; in Paderne at 10:27, 12:28 and 14:29 and in Guia at 10:55, 12:56 and 14:57.
In a note, Albufeira City Council highlights that, due to the event, some of the roads will be restricted during the competition hours, however traffic will flow in accordance with the instructions of the National Republican Guard.
The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday at 4:00 pm on the podium installed in the car park next to the Court.
José Carlos Rolo, Mayor of Albufeira, revealed that “the growing interest and participation of the public consolidates the event as one of the most important events in the south of the country, making it a reference in the region’s automobile scene, with an increasingly important role for the municipality”.
Public Awareness Exercise for Seismic Risk – A TERRA TREME on 5 November
The 12th edition of the Public Awareness Exercise for Seismic Risk – A TERRA TREME, organised by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), will take place on November 5th, at 11:05 am.
The initiative consists of a national exercise promoted annually by ANEPC, in collaboration with several public and private entities, and which aims to “enable the population to know how to act in the event of an earthquake”. “Knowing what to do before, during and after an earthquake, namely knowing the preventive measures and self-protection behaviours to adopt, is the purpose of this journey that we propose to all citizens”, says ANEPC in a statement. The exercise involves performing three simple gestures that can make a difference to those who practise them in the event of an earthquake. The exercise lasts one minute, during which participants, individually or collectively (families, schools, companies, public, private or association institutions), will have to perform the three self-protection gestures: Get Down, Protect and Wait.
“The initiative has had significant support from the school population, thanks also to the involvement of the Directorate-General for Education (DGE) and the Directorate-General for School Establishments (DGEsTE)”, he stresses. In conjunction with these partners, ANEPC, with the support of the municipality of Silves, is promoting a main event of the exercise at the Dr. Garcia Domingues Basic School, in Silves , at Praceta, Largo Gil Eanes 1, 8300-118 Silves.
At the end of this action, a LIVEX Exercise will take place, with the movement of real resources on the ground, for sectoral testing of the Special Civil Protection Emergency Plan for Seismic Risk and Tsunamis in the Algarve, in the Search, Help and Rescue Intervention area, with seven different scenarios, in the municipalities of Portimão and Silves.
In Praia da Rocha, in partnership with the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Portimão, the pilot project sirens of the population warning system, installed in that bathing area, will be activated, with subsequent “evacuation of people and animals from the identified risk areas, through the marked routes to the meeting points, carrying out the emergency procedures that follow a tsunami alert”. Over the course of successive editions, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority has sought to “broaden reflection and debate around the issue of seismic risk and knowledge about what to do before, during and after an earthquake to all sectors of civil society”, particularly within the scope of “the inclusion of people with disabilities, in order to achieve greater resilience, both individual and collective, among the population”.
Throughout the country, the Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commands (CREPC) and the Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commands of ANEPC will promote, in partnership with local educational communities, Fire Departments, Municipal Civil Protection Services and other civil protection agents, awareness-raising actions on the subject of seismic risk and self-protection measures to face it, as well as carrying out the exercise A TERRA TREME.
Citizens and entities can participate by registering here .https://www.aterratreme.pt/
This edition of A TERRA TREME coincides with World Tsunami Awareness Day, highlighting “the importance of an informed and resilient society in the face of natural disasters”.
MAN TRIES TO ESCAPE WITH A FIREARM AFTER HIS CAR COLLIDES WITH A POLICE CAR
The PSP arrested two men on Friday last night, for driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal possession of a firearm, qualified damage and resistance and coercion against an employee, in Olhão.
During a patrol at 03:20 am, “the driver of a vehicle, upon noticing the presence of the patrol car, fled”, says the PSP. Given the suspicious behaviour, the vehicle was “followed and subsequently stopped”, with the support of another patrol car.
When the suspect’s vehicle stopped, “the passenger, who was brandishing a rifle, immediately fled on foot and was caught a short distance away”, the police explained. When ordered to drop the weapon, the man “did not initially comply, so the police officer fired a warning shot into the air”. The suspect immediately “threw the weapon to the ground, and it was possible to handcuff him and subsequently arrest him”.
At the same time, after the passenger had exited, with his path blocked by the police vehicle, with its lights and sirens on, the driver of the suspects’ vehicle began to drive towards the police vehicle, violently colliding with it, causing damage”.
Despite the damage caused and the attempted escape, the police stressed that it was “possible to intercept the driver and arrest him”. The immediate police investigation resulted in the seizure of €2500 euros, the “origin of which they were unable to prove”, as well as a knife. After the driver was subjected to a breathalyser test, he was found to have a blood alcohol level of 1.61 g/l.
ALGARVE RAILWAY LINE CLOSED AFTER FATAL ACCIDENT IN OLHÃO
The Algarve railway line was closed earlier this morning, after a railway accident at around 07:45 am in Marim (Olhão), causing one fatality.
A source from the Algarve Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command said that the victim was crossing the railway line on foot when he was hit by the train, in the Marim area, in Olhão.
By 8:30 am, 18 members of the fire department, INEM, GNR and Infraestruturas de Portugal were on site, supported by seven vehicles.
The line runs across the Algarve, connecting the railway stations of Vila Real de Santo António and Lagos.
That’s all for this edition. Until the next time stay safe.
The month of October is designated by the WHO as Suicide Prevention Month and there are very few families where this particular tragedy has not had an impact in one way or another. It is good to see that Sao Bras de Alportel has joined the “Grab Life” campaign, in force during Suicide Prevention Month , with the aim of raising awareness among the population about this issue and calling for an active role, both at an individual level and at the level of the different community structures in the prevention of suicide and mental illness.
Polluting material was being rounded up this morning at which point authorities patrolling the coast realised it was also present at Boca do Rio. “All contaminated material collected” has been sent to “an appropriate treatment unit via Vila do Bispo town hall”, said a statement this morning from the national maritime authority, explaining that the “general aim of the Mar Limpo Plan is to establish a response mechanism for hydrocarbon and other dangerous substance spills, and for situations where there is an imminent threat of such spills, to define responsibilities of the organisations involved and to establish their competences”.
“The international police operation was launched in less than 24 hours, with the strong support of the Spanish Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (CNP) and the Moroccan General Directorate of National Territorial Surveillance (DGST), based on credible information from the PJ, that Fábio Loureiro was in Morocco.
During this period, APAV supported a total of 4,793 elderly people who were victims of crime and violence, with a significant increase of 4.8% between 2021 and 2023. During this period, 8,921 types of crime and other forms of violence were recorded, with the most notable crimes being domestic violence (77.5%), threats and coercion (4.1%) and insult and defamation (3.5%). With regard to the victim’s profile, they are generally female (76.7%). In around 53.9% of cases, the perpetrator of the crime is male. In 30.2% of cases, the victim is the father or mother of the perpetrator.
“Following an alert received through the lifeguard on duty at Faro beach, informing that two women had been robbed, members of the Faro Maritime Police Local Command were immediately called to the scene,” he explains.
Caneira, 43, was arrested yesterday – and as a consequence “it emerged that he had been sentenced to six and half years in jail for raping a 14-year-old in the Azores” – which he has yet to serve.