Infrastructure: Public safety news in Portugal

A hacker has reportedly stolen one million data records from the Locky locker service operated by the national postal service, CTT. The company confirmed the breach, stating that the stolen information includes contact details, delivery identification, and collection times, but clarified that financial data and passwords remain secure. CTT has notified the National Cybersecurity Center (Centro Nacional de Cibersegurança) and is contacting affected customers.

A 35-year-old woman died and a 47-year-old man was seriously injured following a two-car collision on the A2 motorway near Almodôvar on Friday. Emergency services, including the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM), responded to the scene, and traffic was partially restricted while operations were underway.

The Ministry of Internal Administration has admitted to IT constraints affecting border control operations at Lisbon airport. While officials acknowledge that some passenger data is not being collected, they maintain that these technical issues do not pose a security risk to the country.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) has issued over 10,500 speeding fines since the start of the year, averaging 95 infractions per day. Of these, 680 were classified as very serious offenses, while the majority were categorized as serious. The police continue to monitor traffic behavior across the country to improve road safety.

The Portuguese Firefighters League (Liga dos Bombeiros Portugueses or LBP) has unanimously voted to terminate its cooperation agreement with the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM). The decision follows a 20 million euro debt owed to the firefighters for pre-hospital services. The termination will take effect 120 days after formal notification, potentially impacting emergency response services.

Update: Government promises solution for INEM debt to firefighters

Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves promised this Saturday that the government will find a solution in the coming days to resolve the outstanding payments. INEM acknowledged the debt, citing a need for budgetary reinforcement, and assured that emergency services will not be interrupted during the transition.

The Minister of Internal Administration has announced the reactivation of the Traffic Brigade within the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR), nearly 20 years after its initial disbandment. The move is part of a broader government effort to address high road accident rates and will involve a new traffic model aimed at improving enforcement and road safety. While some associations welcome the return of the specialized unit, others have raised questions about its historical effectiveness.

The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, is expected to announce the reactivation of a dedicated traffic brigade within the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR). This measure is part of a new national strategy to reduce road accidents, which will also include an increase in speed cameras and updated traffic regulations by the end of the year.

A head-on collision involving three vehicles on the IC1 road in Santiago do Cacém resulted in four deaths on Friday. The victims, all members of a German family, included two parents and their two minor children. A 69-year-old individual was also seriously injured and transported by helicopter to a hospital in Lisbon.

The government plans to install 12 additional average speed cameras (radares de velocidade média) by the end of the year to reduce accident rates. The National Road Safety Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária or ANSR) is currently identifying high-risk locations for the new equipment. Officials also announced plans to use artificial intelligence to improve traffic management and prevent collisions. Drivers should note that these cameras calculate speed over a distance rather than at a single point.

Full circulation on Lisbon Metro's Red Line was restored at about 16:45 after service paused for roughly two hours following smoke detected between Oriente and Moscavide near a ventilation shaft. Fire crews said the incident involved smoke rather than active flames and the disruption began at 14:59; authorities identified a pile of rubbish near the ventilation entrance as the likely cause. Commuters and travellers using the Red Line should check for residual delays or alternate routes this evening.

Around 51,000 people remain without phone or internet communications across 33 municipalities after recent severe weather, the Mission Structure (Estrutura de Missão) reports, while authorities have recorded about 139,500 claims totalling roughly €505 million. The government says it is processing thousands of requests for income support, home recovery and loans as repair work continues. Those affected should follow municipal and central-government notices about temporary support and restoration timetables.

The Lisbon City Council has begun on‑site topographic surveys, geological tests and design work to stabilise a slope in the Graça neighbourhood after a weather‑related landslide, Dinheiro Vivo and RTP report. The council said it is preparing a construction procedure for slope stabilisation and improved drainage and has moved residents while work continues. Residents in Graça should follow the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa (Lisbon City Council) notices and expect site assessments and temporary access restrictions.

The government has approved preventive measures for the proposed new Lisbon airport that cover 71,000 hectares across seven municipalities, ECO reports. From Saturday, urban operations in Alcochete, Benavente, Coruche, Montemor‑o‑Novo, Montijo, Palmela and Vendas Novas now require a positive opinion from the National Civil Aviation Authority (Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil or ANAC). Property developers, homeowners and municipal planners in the affected areas should check whether planned works now need ANAC sign-off.

Almost a month after Storm Kristin (tempestade Kristin) hit mainland Portugal on January 28, around 4,500 E‑Redes customers remain without electricity in the worst‑affected areas, the company said. The telecoms regulator ANACOM expects problems in the fixed communications network to continue until mid‑June, complicating recovery and repairs. E‑Redes says restoration work is ongoing; affected residents should check the operator’s updates and local municipal notices for temporary power or communications arrangements. Those living in the impacted municipalities should note possible continued service interruptions.

RTP reports that around 11,000 E-Redes customers remain without electricity as crews continue repairs in the areas hardest hit by the recent storm. The operator says teams are working to restore supply but some outages may persist while damage to lines and infrastructure is fixed. Residents should follow E-Redes updates, check their municipality's emergency information and prepare for intermittent power while repairs continue. Those in affected areas should note local restoration bulletins and check insurance cover for storm-related outages.

Update: Around 11,000 customers still without power

RTP's latest balance continues to show roughly 11,000 E-Redes clients without electricity as repair teams work in the worst-hit zones after the storm. E-Redes says crews remain on site and restorations are ongoing, but some outages may persist while damaged lines and infrastructure are fixed.

The former president of LNEC warned that infrastructures in flooded areas or on highly saturated soil face increased risk of damage after recent heavy rains and floods, CNN Portugal reports. The comment flags how saturated ground can undermine foundations, roads and public utilities and calls for inspections and priority safety checks. Residents and property owners in flood-affected zones should arrange structural assessments, follow municipal safety guidance and document any damage for insurers.

More than two weeks after Storm Kristin, parts of the Leiria region remain without power and recovery may take weeks or months, RTP reports. E-Redes and foreign teams, including technicians from Ireland, have been assisting local crews to restore supply; bad weather has slowed repairs in some areas. Residents still without electricity should follow municipal and E-Redes updates and plan for extended outages where repairs continue.

Update: Irish crews assisting; recovery may take months

RTP adds that recovery timelines remain long — potentially weeks or months — and that foreign technicians, including teams from Ireland who travelled long distances to help, continue to support E-Redes while bad weather hampers repairs.

E-Redes reported that electricity cuts tied to the Kristin depression have fallen to about 26,000 customers on mainland Portugal, with roughly 16,000 still blacked out in the most affected areas. Operators say around 5,000 customers had supply restored during the day as crews prioritised the hardest-hit zones. Those without power should follow local restoration updates from E-Redes and check contingency plans for heating and medical equipment.

Update: Conflicting outlet counts show 26k–31k outages

RTP and Expresso give a current figure of about 26,000 customers without power, with roughly 16,000 in the worst-hit zones and about 5,000 restorations during the day, while Correio da Manhã reported up to 31,000 earlier — a range reporters attribute to different update times and local reporting. Expect numbers to change as crews finish repairs.