PORTUGAL SAFETY AND SECURITY REPORT WEDNESDAY 9^TH OCTOBER 2024

Good morning. October is the European Cybersecurity Month (ECSM), with the theme “Think Before U Click”. This is the European Union’s annual campaign dedicated to promoting cybersecurity among EU citizens and organisations, and to providing up-to-date online security information through awareness raising and sharing of good practices.

Each year, for the entire month of October, hundreds of activities take place across Europe, including conferences, workshops, trainings, webinars, presentations and more, to promote digital security and cyber hygiene. This is important as on line crime continues to increase and Portugal is not immune to this.

In 2023 the attacks with the greatest impact were ‘ransomware’ and affected local public administration, although it was not identified which local authorities or entities were affected. Local public administration suffered attacks with “more impact”, but the most frequent victims were individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), targeted by ‘phishing’, ‘smishing’ and other scams. In numbers, the national computer security incident response team CERT.PT) recorded 2,025 cybersecurity incidents (two more than in 2022), with an increase in private entities.

The brands most simulated in ‘phishing’ and ‘smishing’ attacks were banking (37%), email and other services (31%) and transport and logistics (20%). Among cybercrimes, but not included in the Cybercrime Law, “computer/communications fraud continues to stand out, with 20,159 records by the police authorities in 2023, although 4% less than in the previous year”. We will be highlighting during the month ways in wish you can reduce the risk of such attacks, through simple measures such as using strong passwords and Two-factor authentication (2FA).

As you have seen there has been a frequent weather updates on hurricane activity in the Atlantic and their possible effect on mainland Europe. In May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 2024 would bring “above-normal” hurricane activity, with 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 strength and above. The pre-season forecasts based in part on record warm waters in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, which can help fuel the formation of storms, and the expected return of La Niña, which is associated with more activity in the Atlantic.

An average season, according storm data collected by the NOAA from 1991 to 2020, churns out 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. The most active Atlantic seasons in history include 2020, which holds the record for producing a whopping 30 named storms, and 2005, which holds the record for 15 hurricanes. As of Oct. 3, 12 named storms had formed in 2024, including seven that reached hurricane status and three that strengthened into major hurricanes. The latest is Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico, which is forecast to cross Florida today and head in an easterly direction into the Atlantic.

So far there has been little damage in the Azores although winds at Morro Alto station Flores Island recorded a gust of 177.5 km/h on Monday. Only three occurrences reported concerning: “a fallen tree in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island, damage to an electricity pole in Horta, on Faial Island and damage to a structure in Santa Cruz das Flores”.

With warnings in place it is important to follow the advice of IPMA, Maritime Authority and Civil Protection to avoid getting close to coastlines. Keep yourself and others safe by following these simple steps: check the forecasts and tides in your local area; beware of large waves, even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea; take care if walking near cliffs – know your route and keep dogs on a lead and avoid walks along the sea edge or in areas exposed to rough seas, such as the protective breakwaters of ports, cliffs or beaches, to avoid being surprised by a wave.

Our team wishes you a safe week ahead

News

UK – Man who works for a WiFi company arrested after train passengers receive Islamophobic messages

People on trains at Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and 11 stations in London are among those targeted in the attack.

A man has been arrested after train passengers at some of the country’s biggest rail stations have been hit by a “cyber security incident” which saw them exposed to Islamophobic messages.

Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and 11 stations in London were affected by the cyberattack on Wednesday.

The man is an employee of Global Reach Technology, which provides some WiFi services to Network Rail, British Transport Police said after an investigation. He has been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and offences under the Malicious Communications Act 1998.

Passengers trying to log on to public WiFi at the Network Railway-managed stations were targeted with the Islamophobic message.

The message sent out in place of the WiFi login page, which has been seen by Sky News, contained a passage referring to a UK terror attack.

“Insider threats pose a significant risk to critical national infrastructure because they come from people who have legitimate access to sensitive systems and data,” Rick Goud, chief information officer at cyber security firm Zivver, said.

“Unlike external hackers who have to bypass security measures, insiders are already on the ‘inside’ of the defences.

 

Safe Communities Portugal Safety and Security Report 2^nd October 2024

Good morning everyone. In the last three months, the rural fire-fighting system was at its maximum capacity, with 13,891 operatives, 3,084 teams, 2,990 vehicles and 72 aerial resources on standby, an increase in resources compared to the previous year.

This was a very busy period especially towards the end with many fires especially in the centre and north reaching a peak of around 450 fires on one single day with a deployment of over 5000 operatives. It was also a tragic period with the loss of five GNR soldiers in a helicopter accident and later the death of four fire fighters. Total land area burned was over 130,000 hectares taking the total to 147,000 hectares for the year. Fires also broke out in the Madeira burning for around 8 days and requiring the assistance of Canadair firefighting aircraft from Spain.

With the end of what was known as the critical period the National Operational Directive (DON), which establishes the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR), indicates that from yesterday onwards, resources were reduced, with 12,284 operatives, 2,749 teams, 2,651 vehicles and 61 aerial resources on standby on the ground until October 15. However, and in addition to the device already provided for in the DECIR for this phase, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) guarantees that the device will be reinforced in the event that weather conditions worsen the risk of rural fires.

It should be remembered that it was in mid-October 2017 that the major fires broke out mainly in the centre of Portugal costing the lives of over 40 persons. There is nothing to indicate that weather forecast and fire risk for October this year will be comparable to what it was in the same period of 2017

As a precaution however his year’s DECIR foresees the mobilization of additional resources to respond to more serious situations, with up to 20,000 operatives being able to be mobilized, until the end of October.

From fire to possible floods – the new hydrological year begins on October 1st, so it is important to be prepared for the precipitation that marks autumn by adopting prevention and self-protection measures. The need to mitigate the risks associated with possible periods of precipitation, which could be strong and prolonged, the intensification of the wind and the worsening of sea unrest, imply the early taking of collective and individual preparation measures.

The main causes of minor floods are obstructions to the circulation and regular drainage of rainwater. This can be due to: materials accumulated at the mouths of drainage systems; blockage of roadside water channels; the abandonment of waste from agricultural, forestry and inert material extraction activities, along communication routes and within water courses.

Vegetation is crucial for slope stability as it offers root support, regulates water content, and protects the soil surface. Fires can lead to slope failure by destroying vegetation, weakening root systems, and altering soil structure. Rainfall, especially intense rainfall, following fires in burned areas can therefore result in landslides and “loose objects may be dragged onto roads.

These risks can be increased when major fires occur very close to the beginning of the hydrological year and start of rainfall – as was the case this year.

The immediate or direct threats of a forest fire are the loss of human lives, partial or total destruction of private property, damage to infrastructures and loss of natural resources. However, after a forest fire, changes in vegetation, surface coverage conditions and/or hydrological processes can increase the probability and consequences of slope instability phenomena which can affect the areas in front or above the slopes long after forest fire extinction.

Be aware and prepared especially if you live at either the bottom or top of a slope that has recently subjected to rural fires. Safe Communities has prepared a feature on this topic for the Portugal Resident which will be published tomorrow 3^rd October.

Our team at Safe Communities wish you a safe week ahead

News

Fighting fires. State air resources will only be fully available after 2030

The first helicopters purchased by the PS Government are currently on hold due to a lack of pilot training and aircraft qualification and certification, which are essential for operations on the ground.

The Government announced in June the State’s aerial resource plan for fighting fires, but the device is only expected to be available in force after 2030. Until then, the State will have to continue to resort to the allocation of aircraft and the help of the European Civil Protection mechanism.

In total, 11 aerial resources are planned in addition to the two Koalas that have been in action since May as part of the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR).

In addition to the two Black Hawk helicopters, which arrived this year, seven more are contracted to be delivered by 2025 and 2026, as well as two Canadair’s, scheduled to arrive in 2029 and 2030.

According to information provided by the Air Force to Renascença, the first two Black Hawks, which arrived in 2024, will only have completed the qualification, training and certification phase in two years, if everything goes as expected.

“Currently, the crew qualification and training phase and aircraft certification are underway, which is expected to be completed in 2026”, says the Air Force, adding, “the process faces insurmountable phases in order to guarantee safety and the full fulfilment of one of the most demanding and dangerous missions”.

Those arriving in 2025 will only be ready to go into the field from 2027 onwards, while the Canadairs will enter into action even later.

Duarte Caldeira, from the Centre for Studies and Intervention in Civil Protection, warns of this risk: “Since we are at the end of 2024, we can only expect to have air resources planned for 2027 or later. Only then can we count on air resources for the mission. Pilot training and certification must be taken into account. This is an entire process that is mandatory.”

“Until then, what we will continue to have, in addition to the Koalas, is the rental of resources to meet the needs of aerial intervention to combat forest fires”.

Portugal – 2024/25 Hydrological Year started yesterday

A hydrological year is between 1st October and 30th September of the following year.

The hydrological year 2023/24 in mainland has officially finished but we don’t have final numbers available, only the preliminary till the end of July 2024.

The value of the average accumulated precipitation until the end of July, in the hydrological year 2023/2024, is 934.4 mm, corresponds to 119% of the normal value for 1981-2010. The average accumulated precipitation in this hydrological year remains higher than the 1981-2010 average value and the previous year, with a difference of around + 151 mm.

The values of the average accumulated precipitation in the hydrological year 2023/2024 are higher than normal throughout the North region and part of the Central region.

In some places in the district of Castelo Branco, in the Tejo valley (some places in the districts of Lisbon and Setúbal) and in a large part of south Alentejo and Algarve, the accumulated values in the hydrological year are lower than the normal value.

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 25^th September 2024

Good morning everyone. It will take some time for communities to recover from the severe fires that resulted in the deaths of nine persons, with around 170 injuries, the destruction of property (the number yet to be confirmed) and the burning of over 130,000 hectares of land.

The fires started at a time when the fire hazard was particularly high. The Fire weather index was “exceptional”, meaning that fires can be difficult to suppress by normal means of firefighting. Once the fire gets hold and the intensity increases, driven in this case by warm easterly and southerly winds, the fire spreads and the perimeter of the fire can extend to many kilometres. For example the fire complex” in Oliveira de Azeméis, Albergaria-A-Velha, Sever do Vouga and Águeda has covered a perimeter of 300 kilometres.

As I learned from my visit to Milan, intense fires can also generate difficult atmospheric conditions with changing wind patterns. This makes firefighting extremely difficult in terms of the safety of firefighters, and with considerable smoke being generated, means that firefighting aircraft cannot operate. This was the case in these fires on occasions.

On one day there were over 400 fires registered which the ANEPC believe to be the highest since 2017.It is tragedy that some of these started deliberately with suspects having already been attested.

In the October 2017 fires, strong winds associated with the close passage of hurricane Ophelia contributed to the intensity of the fires, but it also helped in suppressing them, due to the arrival of rain and higher relative humidity a few days later. The current fires were only extinguished upon the arrival of rain. In countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia fires can burn for weeks simple because heatwaves remain. This is a consequence of the increase in global temperatures currently standing a record levels. If it continues we will experience more and higher heatwaves in Portugal and there the greater risk of not only fires, but fires burning with greater intensity, over larger areas and for longer periods.

A few days ago a fire expert Sande Silva recalled that after 2017, “there were major problems due to the expansion of eucalyptus into areas where it had never existed, in circumstances very similar” to the current one, after fires in a “very late period, in October”.

“We can also consider that it is very late because we are about to start autumn and, at this moment, it is starting to rain, and so these are the ideal conditions for the eucalyptus seeds that were released during the fire, or after the fire, to germinate soon after”, he warned. In terms of consequences for the soil, after large and severe fires, especially in mountainous or sloping areas, after the destruction of vegetation and debris called “leaf litter or dead cover, the soil is left unprotected”.

Now, in these soils without plant cover as protection and “with a higher percentage of sand”, more easily mobilized by water, “land subsidence, and stones can come loose and, in general”, an “increase in flood peaks” may occur, as in the past. “If there is a downpour, if the basin is covered, the water will be distributed over time, if the basin is not covered with vegetation, all the water will concentrate and run off at the same time, and will give rise to large flows” that can cause flooding, he stressed.

With the start of the Hydrological Year 2024/2025 to October 1, the likelihood of intense and often localized rainfall phenomena associated with atmospheric instability increases.

Recognising this Civil Protection has issued preventive advice to the population and the IPMA have issued orange level heavy rain warnings, which include areas where the fires were most extreme. It is therefore important that people are vigilant to the above and take care particularly when driving or near slopes that have been durned in the fires.

Our team wishes you a safe week ahead

News

Government highlights link between fires and climate change

Maria da Graça Carvalho stresses that climate change is “a reality for everyone”. “The consequences are already very visible. In Portugal we had the terrible fires”, she added.

The Minister of Environment and Energy referred to the link between climate change and the fires that hit Portugal last week, although highlighting the impact of “human factors”.

“There is always a part that is related to climate change. It is not only that, but it is clear that the unusual conditions that occurred during those three days, both the heat, the wind and the very low humidity, have a lot to do with everything that is climate change”, Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho told journalists in New York, on the sidelines of the Future Summit.

“But that’s not all. There is a whole organization of the forest, processes of cleaning the forest, many other human factors that are also at the origin of these phenomena,” he added.

Nine people died and more than 170 were injured as a result of the fires that hit last week, mainly in the North and Centre regions of Portugal.

Between September 15 and 20, forest fires consumed around 135,000 hectares, bringing the total area burned in Portugal this year to almost 147,000 hectares, the third largest of the decade, according to the European Copernicus system.

Burnt area in Arouca corresponds to 20% of the municipality

Regarding the economic impact of this destruction, the Mayor of Arouca says that the assessment of the losses began while the fire was still ongoing, in areas where there was no longer any fire, but will only be completed in a few days.

Last week’s fire in Arouca burned 20% of the territory of this municipality in the district of Aveiro, the local authority revealed on Monday, with the forest area destroyed at around 6,000 hectares.

“The burnt area has not yet been fully determined, but it is estimated to be around 6,000 hectares, which corresponds to 20% of the municipality”, the president of the Municipal Council of Arouca, Margarida Belém, told Lusa.

Considering that the municipality, which is also part of the Porto Metropolitan Area and is classified as a UNESCO Geopark, occupies a global area of ​​around 329 square kilometres, of which 85% is strictly forest, the portion of destroyed soils corresponds to 17% of the territory’s green area.

Regarding the economic impact of this destruction, Margarida Belém says that the assessment of the losses began while the fire was still ongoing, in areas where there was no longer any fire, but will only be completed in a few days.

“The burnt area is extensive and a lot of machinery and agricultural tools were destroyed,” explains the mayor. “Even so, we hope that the damage can be assessed by the end of this week,” she says.

Until then, the City Council’s priorities are twofold: “On the one hand, ensuring that those affected by the fire are compensated for the resulting damages as quickly as possible and, on the other, considering the weather forecasts for the coming days, ensuring the implementation of actions that safeguard the safety of the population in the burned areas”.

The screams, the fear, the distress: the longest night of the year

By Rui Caria – SIC

The country was promised that never again, that after Pedrogão, the tragedy of the fires would not happen again on such a scale. But last week, part of the country was shocked again. People died, homes and lives were destroyed, entire regions are now an open wound.

The night was the longest of the year in the village of Melres, in the municipality of Gondomar. In the early hours of the 18th of September, a fire that had reached the area a few hours earlier, in the late afternoon of the 17th, was no longer just burning in the forest, but also in the homes of some of the village’s inhabitants, where they spent the night awake.

Whether it was guarding their belongings, helping the firefighters or simply watching helplessly as the flames advanced, few people rested before dawn.

For the others, those who have lost everything, rest will not come soon.

The scene was repeated in the parish of Talhadas, in Sever do Vouga. A little over 80 kilometres away, the night was the same as in Melres. The same orange tone of the sky, the same unbreathable air, the same sparks that flew like firebirds , projecting chaos into the forests that would soon be consumed.

The same cries of distress and confusion could be heard. In forest fires, geography seems to be the only variable. And fear is the great unifier.

 

Portugal safety and Security Report Wednesday 11^th September 2024

Good morning. It is of considerable embarrassment that five violent criminals were able to escape from a high security Vale de Judeus prison. They were sentenced to between 7 and 25 years in prison for various crimes, including drug trafficking, criminal association, robbery, kidnapping and money laundering. Everything indicates that the escape was very well planned, using a ladder and an escape vehicle. The possibility that there was collusion of security officials inside the prison cannot be rules out.

A manhunt is now on for those who escaped and various political parties are asking for officials to explain in parliament what went wrong. This should include why the escape, which was recorded by video surveillance systems at 09:56, but was only detected 40 minutes later, when the inmates returned to their cells. This would have enabled them to have made some headway in reaching the border with Spain if that was their intention.

The President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has asked no alarm be created regarding the escape and that the competent authorities be given time to investigate. “It is preferable to calmly and thoroughly investigate what happened and then report it, rather than having isolated, scattered information that on the one hand creates confusion, on the other hand clarifies little, and I don’t know if it might even help those who fled,” he argued. Sometimes, with good intentions, the fact that people speculate about whether he is here, there, doing this, whether there is information or not, ends up harming investigations and making it easier for those who are on the run,” he warned.

Although calls have been made by the security forces for anyone with information to report this using 112, government as is the normal practice, have not released photos of those wanted, which may help the public identify them. However the media is full of the wanted person’s photos, which should help.

Dangerous wells. If you are a property owner with land, check that your well is covered if the land is not walled or does not have adequate fencing. Many wells are in a state of disrepair and can be a death trap, especially for small children and animals. A shocking statistic is that in the last 5 years some 70 people have died after falling into wells. These have ranged from young children to the elderly from north to south of the country. This need not have happened if the owner of the well had made them safe as required by law.

There are many, many wells, some enclosed in properties, but there also those in fields, near pathways and roads often on land which has not been maintained. Wells camouflaged by vegetation and without adequate protection are real traps and represent a great danger to people and animals. In addition to the deaths there have been many more accidents, where people have fallen into a well and have been rescued by neighbours or the emergency services, putting the rescuers themselves in danger.

If you come across an uncovered well in the Algarve contact this number on the poster produced by Safe Communities and GNR Faro. In any other area report to GNR SEPNA with photo and exact location. https://www.gnr.pt/ambiente.aspx  It is mandatory to protect or effectively cover wells, cracks and other irregularities existing in any land and capable of causing disastrous falls to people and animals. Your action could save someone’s life!

Our team at Safe Communities wish you a safe week ahead

News

Air Force helped save 70 migrants in the Mediterranean

The migrants, including several children, were completely adrift, divided into four boats, sailing relatively close to each other.

An Air Force crew detected more than 70 migrants adrift in the Mediterranean on Friday, contributing to their rescue, in an operation led by the Spanish Guardia Civil.

In a statement released this Tuesday, the Air Force said that the mission, within the scope of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), took place last Friday during a surveillance flight of the C-295M aircraft.

The migrants, including several children, were completely adrift, divided into four boats, sailing relatively close to each other.

The situation was reported to the coordinating entity, and the crew of the C-295M aircraft was informed of the existence of a merchant ship sailing nearby and within the route line that could assist in the rescue.

“This action triggered the activation of Spanish search and rescue resources. Even before leaving the area, and while waiting for the arrival of the Spanish entity’s helicopter, the Air Force crew directed the merchant ship towards one of the vessels, thus supporting the rescue of 21 migrants, including two children”, the note states.

Air Force personnel and a C-295M aircraft will begin the second phase of the Mediterranean surveillance mission on September 5, promoted by the FRONTEX Agency, taking place from the Malaga Base, Spain.

This maritime patrol and surveillance mission, called “Joint Operation Índalo 2024” , aims to safeguard human life, prevent illegal migration and trafficking in human beings, goods and weapons.

The mission also aims to combat drug trafficking, control and inspect fishing activities, control maritime pollution and control maritime traffic, through border and coastal guard surveillance.

How did the first day of AIMA’s mega-operation go?

A new AIMA centre has opened to resolve 400,000 pending immigration cases. Some people spent the night at the door, but ended up not being seen due to lack of appointments. The Minister of the Presidency says that the problem is serious and that it will take time to resolve.

There is great anxiety about resolving problems that have been dragging on for years. Frances, one of the many immigrants who want to resolve their situation in Portugal, has been at the extraordinary post of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) since midnight, which opened this Monday at the Telheiras Hindu Center in Lisbon . However, it was only at 8:00 am that the Brazilian found out that he would not be seen.

“It was not disclosed that the requirement for attendance would be by appointment. I didn’t know, otherwise I wouldn’t be here so soon. And maybe I wouldn’t even come, because I like to do things legally,” says Frances, who was sent to another AIMA post, which is in Anjos, Lisbon.

The same thing happened to other people. There were even those who gave up on making an appointment. “The problem will not be solved today”, says minister

The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, visited the new AIMA center, where he stated that the problem is “big, serious and needs attention.

“Will the problem be resolved today? No! (…) What we are doing here is resolving pending processes by carefully checking that people who can reside in Portugal meet the requirements of Portuguese law.”

The special regularization operation will mobilize more than 100 people, including AIMA workers and also collaborators from civil society entities who have already received technical training.

Appointments at AIMA can be made by calling the agency’s Contact Center between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm.

“We need to understand that this is a long process. There are many pending issues and everyone’s turn will come. The contacts are up to date. Don’t be too worried if they are not scheduled in the first phase, they will certainly be scheduled in the second phase or in the third, fourth or fifth phase. Everyone will be covered”, says the president of the AIMA Workers’ Union, Artur Girão.

The operation is expected to continue until June next year.