Madeira’s ‘Green Heart’ has been burning for a week

The heart of the island of Madeira has been burning for a week now and this Wednesday the European system estimated the area destroyed at 5,103 hectares (51 km2) – more than the entire municipality of Porto (41 km2) and quickly approaching the entire area of ​​the island of Madeira. The area burned on the Portuguese mainland between January 1 and August 14 (7,949 hectares). Data from the Copernicus satellites for emergency management and especially images of the area have shown what the Madeirans say with amazement, shock and horror: “It feels like the end of the world.”

Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism late on Wednesday and Spain is expected to send two Canadair firefighting planes from Malaga today to help Madeira fight the fire that has been raging since the 14th (Wednesday last week) and which may have already started. caused by a rocket launched from a camp in Serra de Água. Yesterday, another 60 civil protection personnel were sent from the continent to Funchal on an air force flight, joining the 72 planned at the beginning of the week. The fire, investigated by the SP, has already reached Ribeira Brava, Câmara de Lobos, São Vicente, Ponta do Sol, Paul da Serra and has also reached Pico do Areiro and Pico Ruivo. It is mined on slopes that are inaccessible on foot and the only air resources in the region (a helicopter) are being used to fight it. Hundreds of people have fled their homes.

A firefighter was injured in the incident

A firefighter was carried away on a stretcher yesterday in Vale da Serra, in Torres Novas, after a fire that burned overnight. The firefighter suffered a sprained ligament and was taken to the Abrantes hospital.