At 11:05 today, Portugal stops for a minute to practise for an earthquake

November 5, 2026, Portugal

Morning. It's Thursday, 5 November. Lisbon 19° · Porto 16° · Faro 20°, dry with some cloud across the mainland. Let's get into it.

📰 THE MAIN STORY

At 11:05 this morning, schools, offices and families across the country are invited to stop for one minute and practise what to do in an earthquake. A Terra Treme, "the earth shakes", is the yearly drill run by ANEPC, the national civil protection authority, reported by The Portugal News. Anyone can take part, wherever they are.

What it means for you: the drill practises three steps, Baixar, Proteger, Aguardar, known in English as drop, cover and hold on.

A common mistake: running outside while the ground is still shaking, or using the lift. Stay away from windows, mirrors and anything that could fall.

Portugal sits close to the boundary between the Eurasian and African plates, and the centre and south of the mainland and the Azores are the most exposed. The earthquake of 1 November 1755, and the tsunami that followed, destroyed much of Lisbon. Last year more than 780,000 people took part in the drill, most of them in schools, according to the organisers.

You can register at aterratreme.pt, which also has videos and guides for homes and workplaces, or simply take part where you are.

In short: one minute at 11:05 is enough to practise the three steps that matter most if the ground ever shakes.

⚡ IN BRIEF

The decree cutting IRS rates for the first six income tax brackets was published yesterday in the Diário da República, the official gazette, backdated to January, reported by Observador. Rates fall by 0.3 to 0.5 points, from 12.5% to 12.2% in the first bracket, for example. To pass on the cut, the tax withheld from November pay and pensions is halved, including on the subsídio de Natal, the extra month's pay at Christmas, before the normal tables return in December.

This applies if you're paid or receive a pension through Portugal. If your income is taxed elsewhere, nothing changes.

After a long dry spell, rain is expected from Friday afternoon along the western coast, spreading inland mainly across the North and Centre, according to IPMA meteorologist Maria João Frada, reported by The Portugal News. Some days could bring heavier showers and thunderstorms.

In Madeira, IPMA, the national weather service, has a yellow rain warning for early Friday, from midnight to 9am. Forecasters say the low-pressure system could keep the weather unsettled into next week, so check the forecast before weekend plans.

AMAL, the association of the Algarve's 16 municipalities, has won approval for more than €9 million, about €6 million of it from EU funds, to install smart monitoring in the region's water supply networks, reported by The Portugal News. The systems will track consumption and flows, so leaks and unusual use can be spotted more quickly.

The project is part of the ALGARVE 2030 programme. No timeline or estimate of the water it will save has been given yet.

📍 WORTH THE TRIP

From the stone marker at the top, the Douro opens out below you: the river curling through the valley and every hillside cut into terraces of vines. The viewpoint sits at about 640 metres, around 18 km and 25 minutes by car from Peso da Régua. The writer Miguel Torga, born nearby, described it as a boat with its keel in the air, and a tile panel by the small chapel carries his words.

On clear days you can pick out villages across the valley, from Armamar to Valença do Douro. Local legend says an enchanted Moorish princess, Dona Mirra, lives in a cave in the rock face. The catch: the last stretch has tight mountain bends and narrows sharply through the village of Pardieiro.

Before you go: the road is paved all the way, and there's a large car park at the top, so no climb once you arrive. Pick a clear day, since haze hides the far views.

Local tip: bring a picnic. There are stone tables and benches in the shade, or there's the Restaurante São Leonardo.

Find it here: Google Maps

WORD OF THE DAY

Say it: mee-ruh-DOH-roo

Meaning: a viewpoint, a spot built or kept for the view

“Vamos ao miradouro ver o pôr do sol?”
Shall we go to the viewpoint and watch the sunset?

You'll see the word on brown road signs all over the country, and Lisbon alone has dozens. In Brazil, people more often say mirante.

North

Centre

South

Islands

Save the date

Até amanhã,

Gabriel - DailyPortugal