The President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, defended on Wednesday the need to “lower the alarmist rhetoric” because the “situation is secure” and the authorities are “doing what they have to do” in fighting the fire that has been ravaging the region for about a week.
“At this moment, it is essential to lower this somewhat alarmist rhetoric. The situation is secure, we are doing what we have to do,” he stated to journalists in Funchal.
Albuquerque made a comparison with the fire in the municipality of Calheta in October 2023, which was “much more dangerous” and in which “12 years burned,” but “there wasn’t this alarmism.”
When questioned about the fact that he took time to visit the areas affected by the fires because he was on vacation, Miguel Albuquerque was emphatic: “No one gives me lessons. I, unlike others, have never delegated my responsibilities to anyone. I assume my political responsibilities.”
He also argued that he has “followed everything from the first hour” and rejected having to present any kind of apology.
Regarding the alleged lack of personnel to fight the fire, which was reported by local firefighters, the official considered that “if men were missing in crucial areas, the houses and residential areas would have already been destroyed.”
“The fight against a fire goes well or badly depending on the damage, physical integrity, human life, infrastructure. There was no loss of human life. There were no injuries. No homes were destroyed. No infrastructure was destroyed. The results are positive,” he stated.
The President of the Madeira Government refuted today the criticisms about continuing his vacation in Porto Santo during the fire on Madeira Island, declaring that he assumes his responsibilities and that the actions should be evaluated by the results.
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.
In these eight days, authorities instructed nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and made public accommodation facilities available, but many residents have already returned, except for Fajã das Galinhas in Câmara de Lobos and Furna in Ribeira Brava.
The fight against the flames has been hampered by the wind, now reduced, and high temperatures, but there is no record of destruction of houses and essential infrastructure.
