The 1978 Fuseta UFO event turned the quiet coastal town of Fuseta, Portugal, into something far from ordinary. Nestled along the Atlantic Ocean, this traditional fishing village in eastern Algarve is known for its serene beaches, marshlands, and bird sanctuaries. But between August and October that year, a wave of UFO sightings shattered its peaceful charm.
🏡 Glowing Orb Over the Farmhouse
One late August night at 11:30 p.m., 41-year-old Maria José Martinho was outside her home. Her house sat on a flat field about 300 meters northwest of the local “fishermen’s district.” Maria spotted a strange red glow between two apricot trees. Initially thinking it was a campfire, she called over her 17-year-old son, Víctor Hugo.
Both watched in disbelief as a glowing, metallic sphere slowly rose above the trees. It hovered silently and moved toward their home. The object was about 2 meters wide and had a rectangular opening emitting bright red and white light. A triangular extension jutted from its top rear. The surface appeared metallic gray. 
As it neared, mother and son retreated indoors. The orb hovered just 1 meter from the house, bathing the interior in light. Their dog barked wildly. The opening then shut vertically with a sound, the lower third of the object turned red, and the brightness dimmed. Eventually, it returned to its original spot above the trees and stayed motionless.
During this time, the home’s circuit breaker tripped four times. The object hovered at around 9-10 meters high. Moments later, it shot off in a straight line toward the Atlantic Ocean, passing a railway and the fishermen’s district.
🤔 Hypnotic Light and Aftermath
Maria and her son reported feeling dazed, as if in a dream. That night, neither ate dinner. Her son immediately fell asleep. Maria felt body aches for days and required medication.
Three other residents from the same area claimed to witness the same object. The incident lasted around 90 minutes under clear skies.
🕺 Encounters with Humanoid Figures
Over the next weeks, the same glowing sphere was spotted eight more times. It always approached from the ocean, hovered near Maria’s house, then vanished the same way. One night, Maria’s nephew arrived on a motorcycle as the orb hovered. Flames shot from its base, causing him to scream and run indoors.
Locals spread rumors that children saw humanoid figures exiting a landed UFO. Though investigators searched, they couldn’t locate the children. But that wasn’t the end of the story.
🌲 Farmers See the Beings Inside
On October 15th, 1978, at 10 p.m., farmers António Viegas Mendonça and his wife, Leonor Dias, saw a strong red light through their window. They lived in a rural house about 550 meters from the fishermen’s district. Outside, they encountered the same orb, now just 5 meters away.
The sphere hovered 10 to 15 cm off the ground and was about 2 meters wide. It emitted intense red-white light, illuminating a 50-meter area. Leonor bravely approached while her husband hid.
Inside the glowing rectangle, she saw two beings. They were about 1.8 meters tall, wore dark gray suits with helmets, and had large black visors over their eyes. Two dark seats were behind them.
When Leonor got within 1.5 meters, the orb rose to 5 meters and flew off. It zigzagged around apricot trees, crossed a railway 400 meters away, and vanished over the ocean.
🌌 Final Witnesses and Psychic Ties
A relative of Leonor saw the same object from a nearby pine forest. Interestingly, neighbors believed António had a psychic gift. The night’s skies were cloudless, moonless, and pitch black. Dogs barked violently as the orb hovered.
The 1978 Fuseta UFO events remain among Portugal’s most unusual sightings. For a town known for fishing and flamingos, the arrival of glowing orbs and mysterious beings was truly out of this world.
