In a statement, the regional secretariat highlighted that Rafaela Fernandes was in the Serra d’Água parish this morning, where she delivered food paste for bees to the first group of beekeepers who expressed this need. All agricultural and livestock producers who have been affected can contact their local parish council, the statement added.
The note also mentioned that the Regional Government will support new hives and bees to restore production.
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, Santana.
Over these eight days, authorities advised nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and made public shelter facilities available, but many residents have already returned, except for those in Fajã das Galinhas, in Câmara de Lobos.
Firefighting efforts have been hampered by wind, now reduced, and high temperatures, but there are no reports of destruction to houses and essential infrastructure.
Some firefighters received assistance for exhaustion or minor injuries, with no other injuries reported.
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System, indicated by the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service, António Nunes, point to nearly 4,393 hectares of burned area as of 12:00 on Tuesday.
The Judiciary Police is investigating the causes of the fire, but the president of the Madeiran executive, Miguel Albuquerque, has already stated that it was arson.
