Mid-week headline news
– July 5
Widespread wildfire dangers
Thirty-five Portuguese municipalities
in six districts from Bragança in the north to the Algarve in the south are at “maximum”
risk of wildfires, the national meteorological office warned yesterday. A total
of about 80 municipalities across Portugal, including the whole of the Alentejo
region, are reckoned to be at “very high risk”. It is expected to be a worse
year for wildfires than in 2022, mainly because of the drought, and winds in
the Algarve.
Hunger amomg Alentejo farm animals
The drought situation in the Baixo Alentejo region is so severe that many farm animals have little food or water. Fodder, when it exists, has tripled in price. Luca News has reported that farmers are facing “a nightmare” this summer because of a lack of hay. The lowest level of dam water in the whole country is in the Monte da Rocha reservoir in Ourique, which provides water for the entire Alentejo Baixa. It is down to 9% capacity. In the last 10 years it has never reached full capacity.
Electricity from Renewables
In the first half of this
year, wind power has provided 25% of Portugal’s electricity needs, and
hydroelectric sources 23%. Renewable production in total has contributed 61%.
These figures were reported yesterday by the national electricity company RENS.
Grossly inadequate housing
Municipalities across the country have
identified 77,000 families living in “undignified” conditions. Parliament heard
this yesterday from the housing minister, who noted that almost 84% of
Portugal’s municipalities are developing local housing strategies under the
so-called 1st Right programme.
Harmful bacteria in water supplies
A new study has concluded
that microplastics polluting some domestic water systems are accumulating more
pathological bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The results of the study were
released on Monday by the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University
of Coimbra.
The Portuguese press
The front pages in the main
Portuguese newspapers so far this week have been reporting on a court case about the shocking death of a young girl, lack of workers
in the tourist industry, workplace harassment, and preparations for the World
Youth Day mass event in Lisbon, with concerns that rubbish collectors in the
capital may go on strike.
It is expected to be slightly cooler in the Algarve with
highs of 31C on Saturday and 34C on Sunday. It will probably heat up with
temperatures returning to 37C on Tuesday. Lisbon temperatures will probably be
27-28 degrees. Similar temperatures are forecasts for the north of the country
with grey skies and a little rain. The central interior areas are likely to
experience 31-33 degrees over the weekend, but up to 38C by the end of next
week.
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