The European agency released an update on the burned area early this evening, reporting data collected up to around 12:00 PM.
Data released on Tuesday by the agency, relating to the situation up to 12:00 PM that day, indicated that nearly 4,393 hectares had burned.
Also on Tuesday, in statements to Lusa, the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC), António Nunes, when asked about the numbers provided on Monday by the regional secretary – which pointed to seven thousand hectares burned – explained that the “confusion stems from an assessment made by the external limits of the burned area.” Within this area, he said, “there are many pockets of vegetation that did not burn.”
The rural fire on Madeira Island broke out a week ago, on August 14, in the mountains of Ribeira Brava municipality, progressively spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol, and through Pico Ruivo to Santana.
According to an update provided today by the President of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, at 7:00 PM, the fire maintains two active fronts and has evolved towards the central mountain range of the island.
“The fire evolved from Pico do Cardo, in the upper area of Curral [das Freiras], to the central mountain range. This means we have one front at Pico das Torres, in a very difficult to access area, and we have another front at Pico Ruivo [in Santana municipality],” said Miguel Albuquerque at a press conference in Funchal.
The President of the Regional Government explained that at this time, the objective is “to contain the downward evolution of the fire towards Curral das Freiras” in Câmara de Lobos municipality, where “a containment strip has been made, and also to prevent the fire from evolving laterally towards Pico do Areeiro.”
Regarding the Pico Ruivo front (the highest point on the island), the governor added that flame containment strips are being made and that a combat force is being concentrated “at the base of the mountain range, to prevent this front from advancing downwards towards Vale da Fajã da Nogueira,” where a hydroelectric plant, a “fundamental infrastructure,” is located.
Miguel Albuquerque stated that about 140 operatives are in the “theater of operations,” supported by 30 vehicles, and that the region’s helicopter assigned to firefighting continues to operate. The aerial asset has already made “about 170 drops” since the beginning of the fire and has performed “more than 35 hours of flight.”
In these eight days, authorities have instructed nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and have made public shelter facilities available, but many residents have already returned, except for Fajã das Galinhas in Câmara de Lobos.
The firefighting efforts have been hampered by wind, now reduced, and high temperatures, but there are no reports of destruction of houses and essential infrastructure.
Some firefighters have received assistance for exhaustion or minor injuries, with no other injuries reported.
The Judiciary Police is investigating the causes of the fire, but the president of the Madeiran executive, Miguel Albuquerque, has already said it was arson.
