INEM's light helicopter that was based in Loulé during the summer left the Algarve at the beginning of the week and will be based in Évora. The rescue and transport of patients will be handled by a Kamov helicopter, which has been used in recent months as a means of fighting fires.
Jorge Botelho, president of AMAL – Algarve Intermunicipal Community, speaking to Sul Informação he says that, despite having already happened last year, “this was not a foreseen situation”, and that “what is important to ensure is that the means are not lacking. What can be regrettable is that situations can happen in which we need these means and we do not have them», he considers.
“Last year, the same thing happened, and there were no problems. What matters is that there are means of assistance and that these are available. Here there was a replacement of a light “heli” for a heavy “heli”, he adds.
For the president of AMAL, and mayor of Tavira, in the Algarve, “the means have to exist, even because of the hospital response we have, which often requires that patients have to be evacuated to Lisbon and also because of the number of tourists that we have in the region».
If, last year, the helicopter went to Beja, this year it will be based in Évora. «It is evident that it is further away and, if necessary… but I will not draw those scenarios», concluded Jorge Botelho.
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