Portugal has dispatched additional firefighters to Madeira to help control large wildfires that have forced evacuations and led to the temporary disappearance of 13 tourists, who have since been found safe.
Key Takeaways
- Additional firefighters sent from mainland Portugal to Madeira.
- 13 missing tourists found safe in a cave.
- Fires affecting Calheta, Porto Moniz, and Camara de Lobos.
- Evacuations and property damage reported, but no serious injuries.
Reinforcements Arrive
On Friday, Portugal sent firefighters from the mainland to the Atlantic island of Madeira to bolster local efforts in combating large wildfires. The fires have been sweeping through the municipalities of Calheta and Porto Moniz on the island’s west coast. The region is experiencing unseasonably high temperatures, expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius (86°F).
Missing Tourists Found
Authorities located 13 tourists who had gone missing and were forced to hide in a cave in a mountainous area of Porto Moniz to escape the flames. An operation to rescue them was successfully carried out, and all tourists were found safe.
Fires and Evacuations
The entire coastline of Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal with a population of around 250,000 and a popular tourist destination, has been placed on orange alert, the second-highest level, until Saturday. A third fire was reported on Friday in a forested area in the municipality of Camara de Lobos, west of the island’s capital, Funchal.
In Calheta, a fire that started on Wednesday has burned across 70 square kilometers, more than half of the municipality’s area. As a precaution, a care home and a health center were evacuated on Thursday, and 120 guests were moved from a hotel. Some houses have been destroyed in Calheta and Porto Moniz, but no serious injuries have been reported so far.
Ongoing Efforts
Porto Moniz Mayor Emanuel Camara described the situation as a "night to forget" and noted that many people were evacuated as a precaution. Although the wildfire has lost some intensity, it is not yet under control. Civil Protection Secretary of State Patricia Gaspar stated that firefighters from the mainland would remain on Madeira for as long as needed. A military plane carrying 64 firefighters has already departed for the island to join the more than 100 local firefighters already on the ground.
