Thousands of people, spread across various locations in Funchal’s bay and amphitheater, today watched the traditional fireworks display that marks the New Year in Madeira and which was marked by an apotheotic ending.
At 00:00 on the first day of 2024, the sky in the capital of Madeira was full of clouds, but was filled with light, color and sound with a pyrotechnic show that lasted eight minutes, in which around 98 thousand pieces were launched, in a total of 20 tons of explosive material.
The end was apotheotic, with 40 seconds of roaring fire, which completely lit up the amphitheater and surprised Madeirans and tourists with its intensity.
The rain forecast did not materialize and, once again, the fireworks once again enchanted thousands of people, who took up positions in various locations around the city’s bay and amphitheater, among streets, squares, private homes, hotels and viewpoints. and also on board dozens of small vessels.
In the port and off the bay, there were eight cruise ships, with around 30 thousand people on board, including passengers and crew, on a night when hotel occupancy in Madeira was around 100% and the floating population on land was estimated at 60 thousand people.
The pyrotechnic show was preceded by 20 minutes of animation and countdown, using the projection of ‘laser’ rays and other effects, creating a ballet of lights.
The fire was launched from 57 burning stations — 27 located in the Funchal amphitheater, 25 between pier 08 and Almirante Reis beach and five at sea — involving the entire city in a siege of color and light for eight minutes .