On December 27th, 1722, an earthquake destroyed many towns, cities and villages in the Algarve with a tsunami inundating low-lying areas of Tavira.
Scientists remain divided as to whether the epicentre was offshore to the north-west of Tavira, or offshore, close to 37°01′N, 7°49′W.
The former high-flying politician and current murder suspect, Duarte Lima, has been declared insolvent by a Lisbon court.
The refusal of Duarte Lima's creditors this April to allow him flexibility has led to his insolvency, owing €31.7 million to a variety of creditors including State-owned Novo Banco and Parvalorem.
The GNR’s Operation Natal Tranquilo registered 750 accidents and one fatality. The number of accidents was 126 more than the same four days last year but there were six fewer deaths.
Operation Natal Tranquilo took place between December 23rd and 26th with the GNR reporting that eight people were seriously injured, 12 fewer than last year and 240 suffered minor injuries, down 44.
Former Olhão mayor, Francisco Leal, and his former head of Urban Management, Ditza Reis, have been accused by the public prosecutor's office of corruption in the licensing of the Village Marina site.
Leal says he has "a clear conscience" and that “no one corrupted me while I was president,” between 1993 and 2013, the latter claim causing much hilarity among local residents.
The former Wham! singer and successful solo vocalist George Michael has died, peacefully at home, aged 53.
The soulful British heartthrob who became a star in the 80s as half of Wham! before earning critical acclaim as a solo artist, died due to heartfailure on Christmas Day at his Oxfordshire home.
Lagos council finally has accepted that the Fort de São Roque, at Meia Praia, is managed by the State which is opening bids to private enterprise to fix up and run the building as a tourist related business.
Lagos councillors have agreed that the government’s ‘Revive’ programme is the best way forward and voted unanimously at the last council meeting of the year to stop any opposition and claim that the fort should be managed by the council.
From east to west, the Algarve is back in business this New Year’s Eve with fireworks and music to welcome in 2017 with the fervent hope that it will be markedly better than the current one.
In Lagos, the venue is the Praça do Infante where Portugal’s Xutos & Pontapés will be banging out the hits from 22:30, followed by fireworks and straight into DJ Monchike’ dance music for those with any energy left.
Former Prime Minister, José Sócrates, will have to be charged before a deadline of March 17th next year, or the case will be have to be dropped.
Portugal's public prosecutor said the current 180 day extension to the deadline for the conclusion of Operation Marquês will have to be adhered to. Sócrates and 17 other suspects are caught up in a money-laundering, corruption and tax fraud investigation that has been going on for so long that many have forgotten what it was all about.
