The large amounts of people racing to petrol stations has already caused several of them in the Algarve to run out of fuel, and those that do still have fuel are facing long queues.
The gas truck drivers’ strike doesn’t start until Monday, but the Algarvians - and the many tourists who are in the region - do not want to run out of fuel, and are "racing" to fill their vehicles. High demand has already caused diesel and, in some cases, also gasoline, to run out in several pumps around the region.
The number of cars driving to stations is also creating traffic problems on various roads and roundabouts, notably along the entire length of the EN125, as queues also eventually occupy the lanes. , which causes traffic jams.
In Faro, the Jumbo filling station, which is part of the Government’s Emergency Gas Station Network (REPA), next to the Athletics Track, ran out of diesel due to high demand last night. However, this morning the fuel had already been replenished and the gas station was operating normally despite the queues.
The same is not true of the BP station, on the opposite side of the road, next to the Faro Motor Club, which had no fuel available today.
And the situation is not unique to the capital of the Algarve. According to an online interactive map there are also stations currently without gasoline or diesel in Albufeira, Portimão, Silves, Vila Real de Santo Antonio, and Lagos.
Bearing in mind that the truck drivers' strike does not start until Monday, it is expected that some of the stations that are currently empty will still be able to replenish their deposits before the strike begins. However, this week’s petrol fracas is still a telling sign of the chaos that could ensue next week.
Comments
Having lived through this kind of strike in Britain (remember 1984?), I see that the outcome will be suffering for everyone. It is time for Costa to bang some heads together, and to force some kind of agreement.
Because they are going to suffer loss of income, panic food buying and those who rely on tourist income to get them through the winter - then that's when they will suffer
Like venuzuala, cuba, north korea,
The leftists gain power by appearing very appealing to the have nots, the underdogs, the workers, abd who time and time again fall for the lies and phony tricks and fake promises from these narcissists who only crave power and wealth, history repeats time and time again, the people just dont learn!
You see, the left socialism, they steal all u money, pay unlivable low wages, create tons of laws and beauracracy, u need a licence to sh*t and this is how it eventually collapses the system, scares away anyone who might have ambitions to start a business, socialism treats business people like criminals!
While the ones who gained power by preaching socialism, dont themselves live jow they preach to others. Socialism always leads to the death of citizens in the millions!!! It starts with breakdown of they system, leading to riots, deaths, injurys, violence, the fuel delivery dispute is a good example,
In portugal, best way is to be a asylum seeker, you will get everything for free!! Apt, health, money, schools, clothes, furniture, for FREE!!!
Thise of you who work, will pay for those who get all for free!!! The false and flawed utopian ideology of Communism has already murdered over 200 million people!!! Cambodia, the killing fields, ussr, cuba, to name a few, 200 million people murdered, thats 4 times more people murdered than hitlers nazis, (50 million)
Liberals, feminists, commies, marxists, when will these people learn???
Leftism is a mental illness.
Considering the high responsibility of the drivers and the fact that they often cannot be with the family for the whole week, the demands are absolutely justified.
The absolute majority of the population supports the strike and shows solidarity with the drivers.
Nevertheless, everyone tries to make some kind of provision and build up reserves. This is already leading to chaos. At most petrol stations there is hardly any fuel left and the quantities are limited to 15l per vehicle.
The Portuguese press is full of stories of farmers who will be desperate to use their machines to gather crops, which will rot if they are not taken in. If this strike goes ahead, it will bankrupt many businesses.
What is it all about, anyway? Why are the lorry drivers (or is it the owners of the lorries?) holding out? What do they want? And why is the government involved?