The Madeiran government closed this Sunday the access roads to the Paul da Serra plateau in the municipality of Calheta due to the approach of the fire that broke out on Wednesday on the island of Madeira.
“I inform you that access to Paul da Serra via the regional road (ER) is closed to traffic,” said information released this afternoon by the Directorate of Regional Roads.
Paul da Serra is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the island among visitors and residents.
According to the note, the ER211 road between the sections of Quebradas and Lombinho in the parish of Ponta Delgada (municipality of São Vicente), the ER 105 road between Porta da Vila and Encumeada with Paul da Serra and the ER 105 line between Porta da Vila and Encumeada with Paul da Serra are closed. 209, which connects this plateau and Ribeira da Janela (municipality of Porto Moniz).
Regional roads 209 and 210 – Malhadinha/Paul da Serra and Prazeres/Fonte do Bispo interchange respectively are also impassable.
Madeira has suffered a major fire that broke out on Wednesday morning in Serra de Agua, Ribeira Brava municipality, in an area that is difficult to access, and then spread to the neighbouring municipality of Camara de Lobos.
At least 160 people have been forced to flee their homes due to fires in two municipalities, a source in the Regional Secretariat of Health and Civil Protection told Lusa this Sunday.
According to the latest official report published by the Regional Civil Protection Service, at 08:30 there were three fronts in action: in the areas of Curral das Freiras and Fajã das Galinhas, in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos and in Serra de Água.
The fire is being fought by 120 operators from all fire departments in the region, supported by 43 vehicles and the archipelago’s air force, and since Sunday the region has also received support from 76 units of the Joint National Emergency Management and Civil Protection Force.
The Regional Civil Protection Action Plan of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (PREPCRAM) was activated in response to the “seriousness of the situation”.
All areas of Madeira are under the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) orange warning for hot weather, while the island of Porto Santo is under yellow level.
A yellow warning, the least serious of the three, is issued by IPMA whenever a risk situation arises for certain activities depending on the meteorological situation, while an orange warning (level two) is issued when a moderate risk meteorological situation is too high.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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