Legal: Emergency services news in Portugal

The external paediatric surgery emergency department at Dona Estefânia Hospital in Lisbon will operate with restrictions this weekend due to a shortage of anaesthesiologists. The unit will continue to observe patients but will not perform surgeries between Friday at 8:00 and Sunday at 8:00.

The Public Ministry has archived the criminal investigation into the death of an 86-year-old man in Bragança during the 2024 strike by National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) technicians. Prosecutors found no evidence that the 48-minute delay in emergency response caused the patient's death from a heart attack.

A man was found dead on Tuesday near the Marreco beach in Matosinhos after reportedly engaging in recreational fishing. The victim was recovered from a rocky area by the Leixões Lifeboat Station, with the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) currently investigating the circumstances of the death.

A construction worker died on Tuesday in Charneca da Caparica, Almada, after a water pipe burst caused a landslide at a work site. Emergency teams were unable to save the victim, who was declared dead at the scene.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) has denied claims that it is eliminating specialized paediatric ambulance services. The clarification follows concerns raised by the INEM Workers' Commission regarding a new government order that defines updated protocols for the inter-hospital transport of critical patients.

A 51-year-old man died and a 28-year-old was seriously injured on Monday after a crane collapsed at a construction site in Eiras, Coimbra. Emergency services, including a Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (Viatura Médica de Emergência e Reanimação or VMER), confirmed the death at the scene. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident.

The Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa) coordinated the medical evacuation of a 76-year-old American woman from a cruise ship west of the Azores archipelago. The rescue operation, initiated on Friday, resulted in the patient being transported to a hospital in Ponta Delgada for treatment.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) is under scrutiny after its emergency dispatch centre, the CODU, reportedly refused to authorize hospital transport for a 55-year-old blind man. Although the CODU initially dispatched an ambulance from the Arruda dos Vinhos fire department to the Marvila area in Lisbon, it later denied the patient admission to the hospital. Firefighters proceeded to transport the man to the Hospital de São José regardless of the instruction.

A 3.1 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale was recorded on Terceira Island this Saturday, April 25, at 14:23 local time. The Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Centre (Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores or CIVISA) reported the epicentre was eight kilometres east of Cabo da Praia. Residents in several locations felt the tremor at a maximum intensity of IV on the Modified Mercalli scale.

Update: Second earthquake recorded on Terceira Island

CIVISA reported a second, smaller tremor occurred on Terceira Island later on Saturday, April 25. This second earthquake registered a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale and was recorded at 18:39 local time.

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.

A Jet2.com Boeing 737-800 carrying 141 passengers from the UK to Gran Canaria made an emergency landing at Gago Coutinho International Airport in Faro this Thursday. The pilot declared an emergency after smoke was reported in the cabin, prompting the activation of the airport's emergency intervention plan. All passengers disembarked safely, and the aircraft is undergoing a technical inspection.

A 57-year-old man died on Monday afternoon after being struck by a train near Moledo in the municipality of Caminha. Rail traffic on the Minho line was suspended for approximately two hours between Caminha and Carreço while emergency services, including the Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (Viatura Médica de Emergência e Reanimação or VMER), responded to the scene. An investigation into the circumstances of the accident is underway.

A fire that broke out on the Sameiro hill in Braga on Monday afternoon has been brought under control after four hours of firefighting efforts. Over 100 personnel, supported by two aircraft and 34 vehicles, were mobilized to combat the flames, which were intensified by strong winds and difficult terrain. No homes were reported to be at risk during the incident.

The ongoing Easter road safety operations conducted by the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) have recorded 18 deaths and 42 serious injuries since Thursday. Internal Administration Minister Luís Neves expressed regret over the figures, urging drivers to exercise caution and avoid distractions. Meanwhile, a video showing Prime Minister Luís Montenegro traveling in a car without a seatbelt has sparked public controversy.

Update: Easter road fatalities reach 18 with high accident volume

The death toll has reached 18, with authorities reporting over 2,000 total accidents during the holiday period. Five of these fatalities occurred within the last 24 hours alone, matching the total death count recorded for the entire duration of last year's operation.

A 20-year-old man was found dead on Sunday after being reported missing at the Idanha-a-Nova dam. Emergency services, including divers from local fire departments and a GNR patrol, conducted a search operation following an alert for a near-drowning incident on Saturday.

A fire broke out Saturday afternoon in a restaurant located on Rua Morais Soares in the Arroios area of Lisbon, leading to the evacuation of the building and temporary traffic closures. Emergency services, including the Lisbon Sapador Fire Regiment (Regimento de Sapadores Bombeiros de Lisboa), extinguished the blaze by late afternoon with no injuries reported. Authorities are currently investigating the cause, which initial reports suggest may have originated from a barbecue grill.

Update: Lisbon restaurant fire extinguished with no injuries

The fire was reported at 17:04 and extinguished by 17:51, according to the Lisbon Sapador Fire Regiment. Traffic on Rua Morais Soares has since reopened, and residents evacuated from adjacent buildings were permitted to return once safety checks were completed.

Four hospital emergency departments, including obstetrics and paediatrics units, are closed this Saturday according to the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) portal. The affected facilities include hospitals in Santarém, Abrantes, Portimão, and Torres Vedras. Health authorities advise the public to contact the SNS 24 health line before traveling to any emergency department.

Update: Emergency department closures continue across four hospitals

Latest updates from the SNS portal confirm that the gynaecology and obstetrics departments at hospitals in Santarém, Abrantes, and Portimão remain closed. Additionally, the paediatric emergency unit at the Torres Vedras District Hospital is also unavailable to the public.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) reported 13 deaths and nearly 2,000 accidents during their respective Easter road safety operations. The GNR recorded ten fatalities, including a family of four, while the PSP reported three deaths in over 1,300 accidents. Authorities also conducted extensive driver inspections, resulting in numerous arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Update: Easter road fatalities rise to 16

The death toll from the Easter road safety operations has risen to at least 16, according to the latest reports from the PSP and GNR. Authorities also noted over 600 drivers were caught speeding and 81 individuals were detained for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Around one hundred firefighters are currently battling a forest fire in Arões, located in the municipality of Vale de Cambra. The blaze, which has two active fronts, is being managed by the Sub-Regional Command for Emergency and Civil Protection (Comando Sub-Regional de Emergência e Proteção Civil).

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 Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) saw a net loss of 437 officers last year, according to the latest Annual Internal Security Report (Relatório Anual de Segurança Interna or RASI). While the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) increased its staff, both the PSP and the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) struggled with more departures than new recruits. The report shows that 895 elements left the PSP in 2025, while only 458 new agents joined.

More than 100 personnel and three aircraft are currently fighting a wildfire in the Pedra Bela area of the Peneda-Gerês National Park (Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês). Authorities from the Cávado Sub-regional Command for Emergency and Civil Protection (Comando Sub-regional de Emergência e Proteção Civil do Cávado) report that no homes are currently at risk. The fire broke out Saturday afternoon in the municipality of Terras de Bouro, involving multiple fire brigades and the GNR.

Update: Wildfire in Peneda-Gerês National Park brought under control

Emergency services have brought the fire in Terras de Bouro under control (dominado), with the status downgraded to the resolution phase (resolução) as of Sunday afternoon. While 81 personnel and 22 vehicles remain on-site for mop-up operations (rescaldo), the immediate threat to the national park has subsided. One aerial asset was used throughout the morning to douse remaining hotspots in difficult-to-access terrain.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) is facing criticism over claims that some staff are operating emergency vehicles without updated driving training. Former officials also allege that a lack of investment and disputes over helicopter service contracts have compromised the quality of care. These internal conflicts led some candidates to refuse leadership roles within the agency last year. Those requiring emergency medical assistance should be aware of potential service delays during ongoing labor disputes.

A fire in an apartment building garage in Setúbal has left 30 residents displaced (desalojados) after the structure lost electricity and water services. The blaze destroyed one vehicle and damaged three others, with the resulting smoke causing significant damage to the building's infrastructure. Setúbal residents should note that the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária) are currently investigating the cause of the fire to determine if it was intentional.

The government has approved a 4.3 million euro expenditure to equip police forces with 1,500 new tasers this year. The non-lethal electric weapons will be distributed between the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR). The Ministry of Internal Administration (Ministério da Administração Interna) stated the move aims to improve operational effectiveness and safety for officers. Residents should note that the rollout is planned for 2026.