“If they try to intimidate me, thinking I’ll get stressed because of it, they’re wrong,” Miguel Albuquerque (PSD) declared to journalists at the entrance of Funchal City Hall, where the solemn session for the Municipal Day is taking place.
The head of the executive assured that he has been following the evolution of the rural fire “from the first hour” and reminded that, unlike other situations in the region, despite the fire being active for eight days, there has been no loss of human life, homes, or essential public infrastructure.
“We currently evaluate fires based on results, and these are the results,” he emphasized.
Regarding his absence – the Social Democrat interrupted his vacation in Porto Santo on Saturday to go to Madeira Island and returned to Porto Santo a day later – he stated: “No one can lecture me on this because, unlike others, I have never delegated my responsibilities to anyone, nor have I said that it was the technicians’ fault.”
“I assume my political responsibilities,” he reinforced, mentioning the story “Alice in Wonderland” to refer to the moment when the Queen of Hearts says “first cut off the head, then hold the trial.” In his understanding, “that’s not the way to act.”
Albuquerque refuses “alarmism” about the fire. “The situation is secure”
The president of the Regional Government of Madeira argued that “there were no injuries” nor destroyed homes or infrastructure, considering that, in fighting the fire, “the results are positive.”
Albuquerque argued that it’s necessary to “lower the alarmist rhetoric” and considered that the situation “is secure.”
The rural fire in Madeira broke out a week ago, on August 14, in the mountains of Ribeira Brava, spreading on Thursday to the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, and, over the weekend, to the municipality of Ponta do Sol. During the past night, it also reached Pico Ruivo, in the municipality of Santana.
In these eight days, authorities instructed nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and provided public shelter facilities, but many residents have already returned, except for Fajã das Galinhas in Câmara de Lobos and Furna in Ribeira Brava.
Fighting the flames has been hampered by wind, now reduced, and high temperatures, but there’s no record of destruction of houses and essential infrastructure.
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System, indicated by the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service, António Nunes, point to 4,392 hectares of burned area up to 12:00 pm on Tuesday.
The Judicial Police is investigating the causes of the fire, but the president of the Madeiran executive, Miguel Albuquerque, says it’s arson.
