The area of the fire, which broke out on August 14 on the island of Madeira and was declared extinguished on Monday, has reached 5,104.1 hectares, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (Copernicus).
The update published by the European agency applies to data collected up to around 12:00 noon on Monday, the 13th and final day of the fires.
Authorities said on Monday that the fire was “completely extinguished.”
On Tuesday, following the end of the natural disaster, the Madeira Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Plan, which was activated on August 17, ceased to be in effect.
A rural fire on the island of Madeira broke out on August 14 in the mountains of the municipality of Ribeira Brava, gradually spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and Santana.
As the fire raged, authorities ordered nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and set up community shelters, but many residents returned home.
Some firefighters were treated for exhaustion or minor injuries without further injury.
Firefighting efforts were hampered by wind and high temperatures, but there were no reports of injuries or destruction of homes or important public infrastructure, according to the regional government, although some small-scale agricultural production and forested areas were damaged.
The Judicial Police are investigating the cause of the fire, but the President of the Executive Power of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, said it was arson.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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