Around six dozen people will be evicted “as a precaution”.
“Madeira has all the conditions to face these situations”, said Pedro Ramos at the press conference to present the status of the fires
The population of Sítio da Furna, in Ribeira Brava, will be evacuated, following the fires that have affected the municipality since last Wednesday.
The announcement was made, at the end of this afternoon, by the regional secretary for Health and Civil Protection, Pedro, Ramos during the press conference to present the current situation regarding the fires, at the facilities of the Regional Civil Protection Service.
The governor announced that the residents of Sítio da Furna will be sent to the Ribeira Brava Gymnastics Pavilion.
There are around six dozen people who will be evacuated “as a precaution”, explained Pedro Ramos.
The secretary also said that on Monday, a firefighter from the Azores was taken to hospital due to exhaustion. This was the only significant incident recorded today.
Regarding the fight against the fire that has been raging for the sixth consecutive day, Pedro Ramos also expressed confidence that “Madeira has all the conditions to face these situations”.
The rural fire broke out on Wednesday in the mountains of Ribeira Brava, spreading the following day to the neighboring municipality, Câmara de Lobos, and, over the weekend, to the municipality of Ponta do Sol, via Paul da Serra.
As of Sunday, 160 people had been removed from their homes as a precaution and transported to public facilities, but many residents had already returned or were returning home.
Fighting the flames has been hampered by the now-reduced wind and high temperatures, but there have been no reports of injuries or destruction of homes or essential infrastructure.