One dead as fires devastate Portugal // Many foreign driver licences now legal in Portugal
Portuguese news in English on Saturday, July 16, 2022.
By the numbers
A new fire every 10 minutes
The fire risk remains extremely high even with a slight dip in temperatures, prompting warnings to do everything we can to avoid any little spark, Público reports. Already, a larger area of Portugal has been burnt this year than last, as devastating fires rage from north to south. On Wednesday alone 171 fires started, an average of more than one every 10 minutes, as strong winds combined with drought-hit land and temperatures above 45 degrees in parts, Público reports. Prime Minister António Costa on Monday said the country was better prepared for the fires than the 2017 crisis that killed more than 100 people, Público reports but warned climate change would continue to increase fire risk in the future.
Check the fogos.pt website or app for information on fires throughout Portugal
One dead, more than 160 injured as thousands battle flames
A pilot has died fighting fires in Portugal’s north-east, prompting tributes from the armed forces and prime minister, Público reports. The amphibious water bomber went down on Friday evening near Torre de Moncorvo, Bragança. There are currently 11 bushfires active from the very north to the very south of the country, four of which — in Pombal, Ponte da Barca and two in Baião — are of particular concern, Público reports. But that’s sure to change quickly. More than 3000 firefighters worked side by side with locals to hold back the flames on Thursday, The Associated Press reported, in English. By that stage, more than 160 people had been injured, including at least 70 firefighters. The “state of contingency” — which blocks most access to forestry and bans fires — will continue until at least Sunday, Lusa reports. The emergency measures forced music festival Super Bock Super Rock to move from Meco to Altice Arena, Diário de Notícias reports.
Dry and hotter than usual summer to come
The rest of summer is expected to continue to be dry and hotter than usual, Público reports. Particularly in the North and Centre, the season could be even drier than usual as well, a problem following such a dry winter. More than 96% of continental Portugal was in severe (67.9%) or extreme drought (28.4%) and the rest was still in a moderate drought, as of June 30. Pinhão sweated through Portugal’s hottest July day ever on Thursday (47 degrees) and was one of 14 weather stations to record new local records for the month, Lusa reports. Between July 7 and 13,238 more people died than expected, an excess mortality Director-General of Health Graça Freitas said could be attributed to the heatwave.
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In brief
Court declares quarantines and confinement outside of state of emncy unconstitutional. The constitutional court set new jurisprudence one constitutional scholar described as an “enormous setback” to what the government did, or may do in the future. (Público)
House prices now increasing more outside of Lisbon. Nationally, prices rose 17.2% on average in the first three months of the year, compared to the same period last year, with a 13.7% rise in Lisbon.
No money for roads or parking in €23 billion EU funds deal. Brussels had previously noted there had been “a lot of money spent on this in the past” and that “roads are not a good priority”. There will also not be funding for cultural programs or events not directed towards sustainable tourism.
Hospitals cancel appointments and surgeries to divert doctors to emergency rooms. A lack of doctors has been blamed, with obstetric gynaecology the most affected area but others likely to be impacted. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note: Dozens of foreign licences now legal in Portugal
Now finally, some good news. Drivers from more than a dozen more countries, including the US, UK, Brazil and Mexico, no longer need to swap their driver licences to take to the roads legally in Portugal, Diário de Notícias reports. As of Wednesday this week, anyone with a licence from a member of the OECD (list here) or Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries can drive for as long as their licence is valid, with a few conditions. The licence must be no more than 15 years old and the driver must be under 60 and over the legal age for the relevant licence in Portugal. The countries also have to be signed up to relevant international driving conventions or have a bilateral accord with Portugal. You can read an English summary here in the official government gazette. Previously, drivers from countries outside the European Union could only drive legally for a limited period and had to swap their licence within two years or sit a new driving test.
Jorge, any idea regarding this new decree for driver license exchange IF you are older than 60?