Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Good morning – Yesterday the President of the IPMA, Miguel Miranda, forecast in the coming months the continuation of high temperatures, absence of precipitation and very high fire danger. He added that the objective is not to be alarmist, but realistic and to act preventively.

Since February we have had little precipitation. The probability of precipitation from here until the summer is low and, therefore, we will have tension in many areas, in the environment, in supply, in dams, resulting in fires. Miguel Miranda stressed that the risk of fire will have high levels, highlighting that everyone has to prepare for the summer and balance the economy with the lives of citizens.

He added that February was a hot and dry month and April was marked by three heat waves, with 89% of the territory in a drought situation, with 34% in severe and extreme drought (South Region).

The Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro, told journalists that the Government has been raising awareness among institutions and municipalities to have fire defence plans prepared, but also people with regard to cleaning the land.

“People should go to city councils, municipal civil protection services, they should go to fire departments and try to maintain cleaning work (…) always accompanied by municipal civil protection teams or firefighters in order to who can do it while safeguarding their lives and assets”, said José Luís Carneiro.

It is extremely important that land cleaning continues and people are encouraged to approach councils and seek assistance when needed. Undertaking extensive land cleaning alone in increasing hot temperatures can pose risks in itself, both the risk to health, accidents and causing fires if ill prepared to undertake the burning of debris. It is better to get assistance rather than take risks.

We also ask our readers to familiarize yourselves of actions to take should a rural fire break out in your area which develops to a stage which it could affect your property. It is important to have a plan of action to take and also in the event an evacuation becomes necessary. It is also essential that all family members are involved in the plan. If you have animals it is important that these are taken into account.

As we move into the summer, we strongly advise everyone, especially those living in rural areas to study the daily fire risk, to determine the risk not only in the area where you living, but also you maybe be visiting. This is posted daily on this page. As we have previously stressed the potential intensity of fires is important, as well as understanding how fires develop and spread.

There has been some great work undertaken by the security forces in the recent seizures of several large quantities of drugs en-route to Portugal as a landing point; the eventual destination being mainly northern Europe. The latest is by the Judicial Police through the National Unit to Combat Narcotics Trafficking, of around 4.2 tonnes of cocaine originating in Latin America. The drugs in question, which has a high degree of purity, was transported to Portugal by sea concealed in a shipment of fruit on pallets, more specifically bananas, which entered national territory through the Port of Setúbal.

This seizure is the result of the intense activity of gathering information carried out by the Judiciary Police, in close articulation with the authorities of other countries and with various national entities. Such drugs have considerable value, but more importantly is the damage to health and often death such drug abuse brings. This year is likely to be one of the highest in terms of drug seizures by Portugal, most being hashish and cocaine.

Our team at Safe Communities wish you an enjoyable and safe week ahead.

News

89% of the territory is in drought and a hot May is coming

The forecasts advanced by the IPMA at the meeting that also included the presidents of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) and the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests point to a “month of May that is hotter than normal and without rain”. After months with below normal precipitation values ​​and above normal temperatures.

With April being among the five hottest since there are records, with three heat waves and temperatures above 30. º. In terms of fire risk, April was “the most severe since 2003 and by a wide margin”. In addition, explains the IPMA in a statement that the accumulated burned area in 2023 “is above the average of the last 16 years, both in Portugal and in Austria, Ireland or Spain”.

Factors that, combined, increase the risk of fire, with the Minister of Internal Administration revealing that “ANEPC determined the constitution of 40 teams; more than 200 elements that are prepositioned in the territory to mobilize”. Reinforcing, quoted by Lusa, the importance and urgency of land clearing.

Looking at the meteorological drought, it has already spread to 89% of the territory, with 34% referring to the most serious classes (severe and extreme), affecting the Alentejo and the Algarve. On the other hand, “the percentage of water in the soil is almost zero in several areas of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, in the centre and south of the Continent”.

“The probability of precipitation from here until the summer is low and, therefore, we will have tension in many areas, in the environment, in supply, in dams, in fires”, he said, quoted by Lusa, the president of IPMA. The Minister for the Environment reaffirmed that “measures could be taken from a contingency point of view” given the lack of supply capacity in some areas of the country.

Mosquitos in Portugal are “Under control”

We have entered mosquito season. From May to October, technicians working in the REVIVE surveillance program have their hands full. It is necessary to know the species that enter the country and where they live. In recent years, Aedes albopictus, the vector of the Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya viruses, has been a major concern, but has so far been controlled. “It is unlikely that there will be outbreaks for the time being”, says an INSA researcher speaking to DN.

In the biologist’s lists, there are at least 100 invasive species in the world, but there is only one mosquito, Aedes albopictus. And it is this that is now cause for concern. However, in Portugal, 40 species of mosquitoes have already been identified. Aedes albopictus (Asian Tiger mosquito) is of Asian origin, originating in Japan, and a vector for Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya viruses. The researcher at the Department of Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health Ricardo Jorge (INSA) and coordinator of the National Vector Surveillance Network (REVIVE), Maria João Alves, says that, for now, “what has been found in the country makes us believe that the species is under control and that there is a very low probability of having autochthonous cases and outbreaks”.

However, she points out: “We cannot say that there is no possibility of outbreaks, because Aedes albopictus is a vector, and things can change at any moment, but in the surveillance that we have been carrying out in this area for over 15 years, we have never found infected mosquitoes and for these to be able to infect people, there would have to be a combination of factors, such as greatly increasing their abundance and having a person infected with Dengue, coming from a tropical area, who would settle precisely in a region of Portugal where this mosquito exists, to be able to infect mosquitoes that are not infected”.

But this alone is not enough. That is, even if there is an abundance of mosquitoes and weather conditions are favourable for transmitting the virus to the mosquito, which would happen due to the fact that it “feeds” on human blood, the infection would only take place if the person settled in that region within the first five days as a carrier of the virus, which means that the risk of having autochthonous cases of Dengue, Zika or Chikungunya, in other places outside their natural habitat, is very low.

However, what we want is to keep the number of specimens as low as possible so that there is no possibility of transmission of infectious agents”. She stressed, being bitten by a mosquito does not mean one contracts any of the diseases (dengue, zika, chikungunya) that this species carries.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 26^th April 2023.

Good morning – Firstly I hope all those who were able to take a holiday yesterday, known as Carnation Day, had a relaxing time with some very good weather in many areas.

It was pleasing to note that there were surprising few rural fires despite an increase in temperatures and the fire risk. So far so good.  However over the next few days the temperature is set to rise well above average for April, although it appears Spain will suffer the most, with temperature of 40C forecast.

Although in Portugal it is likely to be in the region of 30C to 35C in some parts , these sorts of temperatures in April do not bode well for the summer, when we could experience heatwaves similar or more intense that last year, according to a recent statement by the Minister of Internal Administration.

In fact according to the IPMA “This will be the third heatwave of the month, if it occurs,” said Bruno Café, the first heatwave having taken place between April 2nd and 11th and the second between April 15th and 20th. According to IPMA, a heatwave occurs when maximum temperatures are at least five degrees above the average maximum temperature for six consecutive days.

Although a great deal of preparatory work has been done to tackle fires when they occur, such as addition resources (human and financial – plus more aircraft to combat fires, it is essential that the community also does its part through land cleaning. Just 5 days to go before the deadline.

During the last week, the specialist who studied the fires of 2017, Pro. Domingos Xavier Viegas, warned that, despite the occurrence of large fires being more “probable” in the Centre and North regions of Portugal, these phenomena can happen “everywhere”.

He added “Our experience shows that they can occur practically everywhere. In the regions of Central and Northern Portugal, where the topography is more complex and the vegetation is more prone to fires, it is more likely, but we have already seen large fires in regions where, at the outset, it was not expected”.

Recognizing that the country has learned some lessons from the fires of 2017, in which 114 people died, the specialist who was part of the Independent Technical Observatory and coordinated the studies requested by the Government on those fires considers, however, that it has not been “enough”, and there is “a long way to go”.

Although this was interpreted by some media that Portugal in some way is ill prepared to fight fires, this is far from the truth. As Prof. Veigas says, there is more to be learned by the scientific community and operationally how fire behave under such intense conditions and this is an issue not just in Portugal, but overseas as well. This is why there are groups such as FirEUrisk” funded by the EC which comprise various experts to study phenomena such as this, to come up with recommendations to address these problems. Safe Communities is privileged to be a member of the FirEurisk observatory and this has enabled us to be involved in the debate examining these issues as well as others.

So over the next few says with more extreme weather conditions and exposed fire risk, let’s make every effort to prevent fires and reduce the risk of them threatening rural communities – step one land cleaning!

With that our team wish you a safe week ahead.

News

Turkey honours Portuguese team that supported rescues after earthquake

The President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, honored, this Tuesday, in Ankara, the Joint Operational Force (FOCON) that fulfilled in Turkey the mission of supporting search and rescue operations after the violent earthquake of February 6th.

The head of mission of the Portuguese force, Commander José Guilherme, received the decoration insignia from Turkey, also awarded to the other international teams that were in the country to help with search and rescue work, says the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) ), in a press release.

The Joint Operational Force (FOCON), coordinated by ANEPC and made up of 52 members of the Special Civil Protection Force of ANEPC, GNR, Lisbon Firefighters’ Regiment and National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) and six dogs, was more than a week in the Turkish city of Antakya/Hatay.

Dozens of countries continue to evacuate citizens from Sudan

A total of 138 citizens were rescued”, including “87 Ukrainians, mostly aviation specialists – pilots, technicians and their family members”, as well as “citizens of Georgia and Peru”, the main intelligence department of the Ministry of Defence, Ukrain published in a Telegram.

Also today, the Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs announced the withdrawal of 700 citizens from the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, with the departure of a train carrying 211 Pakistanis, adding to those who had already been transported on Monday.

According to the ministry, before this operation, 1,500 Pakistanis were in Sudan.

India today evacuated 278 citizens aboard a Navy ship that will take them to the Saudi city of Jeddah, said the spokesman for the Ministry of India, Arindam Bagchi, in a publication on the social network ‘Twitter’.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi quantified last week that more than 3,000 Indians reside in Sudan.

Operations to evacuate Indian citizens from Sudan began on Monday, sending two military planes to Khartoum and a navy vessel to Port Sudan.

According to the latest balance released by the agency France-Press (AFP) dozens of countries are withdrawing citizens, taking advantage of a 72-hour ceasefire decreed by the belligerents.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, announced that by the end of Monday, another 1,200 European citizens had been removed from the approximately 1,500 who lived in the country in conflict.

 

Portugal Situation and Security Report Wednesday 19th April 2023

The  good news is that this years this year’s DECIR, the national operational plan concerning rural fires, will have 13,891 elements and 2,990 vehicles during the highest wildfire season which means the commitment period, between July 01 and September 30 (DECIR Level IV). This is very  welcomed representing an increase from the previous year.

In 2022, the number of responders involved in fighting fires in the same period has reached 12,917, which means that this year there are 974 more elements to fight rural fires. Regarding aircraft, the 2023 Rural Fire Fighting Special Device (DECIR) plans for up to 72 aircraft, 12 more than in previous years.

This year’s DECIR incorporates proposals formulated by experts analysing the 2022 fires as part of the process of lessons learned. The availability of resources is the highest ever, which gives
better conditions to those who fight fires in order to protect people and their property. As fires develop with often greater intensity due to the effects of climate change, the demands on fire fighters both on the ground and in the air increases, so the importance of having a national operational plan, based on lessons learned formulated by experts is paramount.

One of these is the Regional Commands, of multifaceted teams, comprising the participation of the various entities in each of the Coordination and Regional Development Commissions, so
that “when the fire exceeds a certain level of complexity, there is technical expertise capable of studying applying the best approach methodologies”.

This is something we have previously stressed at Safe Communities; firefighting is a complex task in these conditions and this is why responders are from many different entities incorporating professional experience, technical skills and using up to date technology including that which can predict the intensity and spread of fires and communicate this to
commanders on the ground.

Also welcome news is that the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests and the Special Force for the Protection Civil, which will mobilize means and expand human resources
so that they can penetrate further into the forest, maintaining the protection of people and their property”.  This type of firefighting requires specialist knowledge such as the intensity of
how various species of trees and shrubs burn in fires.

There is also going to be more emphasis on training which we have already seen in the Algarve and other regions, with various training programs and exercises being conducted. This will also
focus on training for the complexity that the fires are currently revealing due to weather conditions, with DECIR predicting “another 5,400 elements who will receive specific and more
complex training on the part of the Escola Superior de Firemen.”

During the season we will be covering the work undertaken by the various entities from the Bombeiros, to ariel fire fighters, who all work together under a civil protection framework in
accordance with the DECIR 2023.

A reminder that the deadline for land cleaning is just 11 days away! With the fire risk increasing there is little time left, so if you have yet to make a start do so asap whilst respecting, of course, the restriction of the use of garden machinery in very high or maximum fire danger conditions. We publish the risks and restrictions on out FB page each morning.

In section and enforcement action is being stepped up especially in high risk areas so please take note and appropriate action. Land cleaning helps protect properties in the event of fires so it is very important that this is undertaken.

Have a safe and enjoyable week ahead

News

GNR arrested 34 people this year for the crime of arson in
Manteigas, Guarda, 17 Apr 2023 (Lusa) – The National Republican Guard (GNR) this year detained 34 people on suspicion of forest fire crimes and signaled 13,024 infractions for lack of fuel management, said the Minister of Internal Administration today.

“This year, the GNR has already signaled 13,024 situations that could be violated due to lack of fuel management, it has already prepared 66 notices of administrative offenses for improperly
carrying out burnings and has already prepared 935 notices of news for the crime of forest fire”, said José Luís Carneiro in Manteigas, in the district of Guarda, at the public session for
the presentation of the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR 2023).

The holder of the Internal Administration portfolio also said that the GNR identified 258 defendants this year and carried out 34 arrests of people for allegedly committing crimes of fires.
The minister also said that 168 arrests were made by the GNR and the Judiciary Police in 2022, related to occurrences of forest fires. “The number of arrests doubled in 2022 compared to 2021,” he said.

Sintra: safe bathing at the weekend leading up to the official bathing season Sintra Council has created a protocol that regulates the pre-Bathing Season, guaranteeing in
view of the high temperatures, and the number of bathers who go to the beaches, adequate surveillance in the municipality at beaches at weekends and holidays. In a statement sent to the newsrooms, Sintra City Council explains that the decision comes in the wake of the high influx of users to the municipality beaches. And in order to guard against situations that endanger the safety and lives of bathers, at a time when, despite the
high temperatures, the sea still presents adverse conditions for bathing.

The lifeguards will start guarding the beaches through a protocol with the Association of Beaches of the Municipality of Sintra, including Praia da Adraga, Praia Grande, Praia das Maçãs, Praia do Magoito and Praia de S.Julião.

The mayor, Basílio Horta, explains that “this is a joint effort with the concessionaires. The objective is not to open the bathing season right away, it is above all, about acting in
conscience and taking care, as far as possible, of protecting those who frequent our beaches. It is a very relevant gesture and one of great solidarity between the Chamber and the Association
of Beaches of Sintra. ”

On the beaches of Sintra, the assistance for bathers will be available, with the presence of two to three lifeguards per beach, essential elements for the safety and protection
of beach users.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 12^th 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 7^th 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 30^th 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) .