The President of the Regional Government of Madeira visited the areas affected by the fire today

The president of the regional government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, is today visiting areas affected by the fire that broke out a week ago and has already destroyed another 4,000 hectares of forest on the island.

The move was announced Tuesday evening, at the end of another day in which the opposition criticized the executive branch and Albuquerque to the point that the PS allowed the creation of an investigation commission, which responded with accusations of political exploitation by the parties.

On Tuesday evening, the Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC) reported that the “most worrying” event occurred in Curral das Freiras.

The rural fire in Madeira broke out a week ago, on August 14, in the Ribeira Brava mountains, spreading on Thursday to the municipality of Camara de Lobos and over the weekend to the municipality of Ponta do Sol.

The fight against the fire was complicated by the dying wind and high temperatures, but there was no evidence of destruction of houses or vital infrastructure.

Three firefighters have already been hospitalized for exhaustion and symptoms related to “malaise and sickness,” with no further injuries reported.

During these eight days, authorities ordered almost 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and set up community reception centres, but many residents have already returned, with the exception of Fajã das Galinhas in Câmara de Lobos and Furna in Ribeira Brava.

Data from the European Forest Fire Information System, cited by the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service, António Nunes, indicates 4,392 hectares of burnt area as of 12 noon on Tuesday.

The Judicial Police is investigating the cause of the fire, but Miguel Albuquerque has already stated that it was arson.