Latest news and stories about emergency services in government in Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
A protest in Lisbon highlights the deteriorating state of the NHS, with a specific focus on the controversial reorganisation of emergency services.
CNN Portugal spent time inside CODU, INEM’s medical call centre in Lisbon and found a centre under sustained pressure where high call volumes demand rapid, accurate triage and careful deployment of ambulances and other rescue resources. The report examines how operators prioritise calls, the protocols guiding decision-making, and the operational strain of matching limited resources to urgent needs.
The PSP (Public Security Police) have identified around 30 people after shots were fired with prohibited weapons in Lisbon. A targeted operation — involving Rapid Intervention Teams and Traffic Division units — ran from 22:00 Friday to 02:00 Saturday; no incidents were recorded and no arrests were made. Enquiries and investigations remain ongoing as police follow up on those linked to the discharges.
I know it is not easy to accept this, but the emergency system does not exist to respond to our anxiety. The system was created to respond to the severity of situations. A column by Carmen Garcia.
Changes in patient transport lead firefighters to sign an agreement with INEM. The municipality promises to pay in May.
The President of the Republic is meeting with all social partners, including the CGTP, which had been excluded from negotiations. Additionally, the Government promises to find a solution for the INEM's debts to the fire departments.
Cristina Vaz Tomé says she was not informed about the strike notices and only learned of the stoppage when she arrived in Lisbon, by which time it was already underway. Her statements were contested by the PS, Chega, and IL.
At issue is a recommendation by the PS for the creation of permanent intervention teams (EIP) within Lisbon's volunteer fire brigades.
The Socialist Party (PS) sent a query to the Luís Montenegro government on Tuesday, April 14, expressing concerns regarding the creation of the Integrated Prevention and Operations Command (CIPO). This temporary joint team, coordinated by the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, will operate in the Centre and Lisbon and Tagus Valley regions until at least May 31. While the PS welcomes the inclusion of the Armed Forces in rural fire prevention, they warn that adding another temporary structure raises questions about the stability and legal compliance of the current model. The PS argues that the existing Integrated Operations for Protection and Relief System (SIOPS) already includes coordination mechanisms, and they fear a potential overlap of duties and a risk of disjointed command chains. The party is urging Interior Minister Luís Neves to establish a permanent, integrated model that ensures the Armed Forces' contribution is structural rather than merely temporary, while also addressing the need for social support following recent severe weather damage.
At issue is a recommendation from the PS for the creation of Permanent Intervention Teams (EIP) within Lisbon's volunteer fire departments, a proposal scheduled to be discussed this Tuesday at the Lisbon Municipal Assembly meeting.
Campo de Ourique, Belém, Campolide, Bairro Padre Cruz, Bairro da Boavista, and Parque das Nações were identified as priorities. The works will be carried out by the Lisbon City Council by the end of the year.
Lisbon will have 18 fire brigade ambulances by the end of April. The tender to renew the fleet is awaiting approval. Luís Cabral says he found a 'pre-civil war' climate when he arrived at the institute.
Intensivist Nuno Gaibino will take over as interim director of the central emergency department at Hospital Santa Maria in Lisbon this Wednesday, replacing João Gouveia, according to an internal note. The ULS Santa Maria Board of Directors stated the decision aims to bring new momentum to the strategic renewal project of the Central Emergency Service. Gaibino, who currently serves as National Coordinator for Transplantation at the IPST, will hold the position until a formal selection process for a permanent director is concluded.
Ana Paula Martins guarantees that “this is proof that the [current model] does not work”
A pregnant woman transported from Barreiro gave birth before entering the emergency department of Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon.
Click here and follow the DN Brasil channel on WhatsApp! Subscribe to DN Brasil on YouTube and Spotify so you don't miss any shows! The Radar DN Brasil airs every Friday at 8 am on the DN Brasil YouTube and Spotify channels, featuring a weekly summary and everything that matters to Brazilians in Portugal. DN Brasil is a section of the Diário de Notícias dedicated to the Brazilian community living in or planning to move to Portugal. The texts are written in Brazilian Portuguese. Nationality Law returns to parliament on April 1st. Watch this Friday's Radar DN Brasil, March 27th.
Civil Protection, firefighters, and some Lisbon residents were ready, but the alert was barely audible. Carlos Moedas acknowledges that the system needs to be improved.
The first test exercise for Lisbon's tsunami warning system took place on the morning of Tuesday, March 24. Sirens sounded at Terreiro do Paço with audio messages indicating it was an emergency evacuation drill. Over one hundred personnel from Civil Protection, Municipal Police, Public Security Police, and the National Maritime Authority were involved in the operation. Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, stated he will propose holding these tests every two months, though the municipal Civil Protection director confirmed only one more for this year. Carlos Moedas: 'I have no coalition with Chega, nor will I ever have one.' The Governor of the Bank of Portugal refuses to comment on Mário Centeno's early retirement.
The LisbonWave 2026 exercise will take place this Tuesday in four locations across the Portuguese capital, testing the response capacity of the sirens installed there. The system is part of a programme designed to alert and guide the population and tourists via evacuation routes to meeting points, away from potential waves.
A sequence of tones and a tsunami alert message will be heard this Tuesday in Lisbon at 10:30 am, but it is only an exercise.
Lisbon will test its tsunami warning system along the city's waterfront this Tuesday, March 24. The exercise, called “LisbonWave26”, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of warning mechanisms and emergency procedures.
On Tuesday, 24 March 2026, Lisbon will test four tsunami sirens along its waterfront. The exercise, named 'Lisbon Wave 26', will take place between 10:30 and 12:00, with sirens sounding every half hour and broadcasting voice messages in Portuguese and English. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas stated that the initiative aims to strengthen the city's emergency preparedness against natural risks. Civil Protection officials advised that in the event of an earthquake, citizens should move away from the waterfront to higher ground, even without an official alert, and remain vigilant for signs such as receding water.
The test will take place on the 24th, between 10:30 am and 12:00 pm. The sirens are installed at Praça do Império, Ribeira das Naus, Passeio Carlos do Carmo, and Doca de Alcântara.
Público highlights this Thursday, March 19, that the Public Prosecution Service criticises the Judiciary Police for delays in investigating corruption crimes, noting that a report on the criminal policy law defining priority investigations for 2023-2025 warns of a shortage of prosecutors, court officials, and experts. The newspaper also reports that there are now deadlines for insurers to disregard cancer history when calculating premiums, with a decree-law establishing a reference grid for various oncological conditions. Additionally, an interview with Francisco César, leader of the PS-Azores, reveals accusations that the PSD is attempting to exclude the PS from the Constitutional Court. Jornal de Notícias reports on a serial rapist targeting dozens of young women in the Greater Porto area. Correio da Manhã focuses on a corruption case involving Christmas lights in Lisbon, alleging 400,000 euros in bribes, with the Judiciary Police monitoring a lunch between the City Council's secretary-general, Alberto Laplaine, and businessmen. Diário de Notícias covers a meeting of 14 mayors from Greater Lisbon to coordinate a joint fight against the closure of emergency services. Negócios reports on the Government's new diesel subsidy.
A landslide poses a risk to buildings and houses in the area.
Storm Leonardo causes over 800 incidents by 11 PM. Heavy rain and strong winds affect the Centre and Lisbon. Thousands of operatives are responding to falls, flooding, and landslides.
In Lisbon, the Socialist Party (PS) is questioning the city's preparedness for storms, while the Left Bloc (BE) is demanding explanations about Chega's presence and influence within municipal companies.
The alert was raised at around 5am when the woman was found on the ground in a car park next to Avenida de Ceuta.
The Mayor of Lisbon emphasised stepped-up support and increased preparedness in response to the storm.
The mayor of Lisbon and president of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area today urged the public not to leave their homes overnight, warning of heavy rain and strong winds, and highlighted increased support and preparedness in response to the storm.
