Its been a restless night in Calheta, as fires moved on to Prezeres.
homes were close to the fires and residents said it was a night of hell, and took to social media asking why there weren't more resources in the area.
The weather has improved a lot over night, with cooler temperatures, a huge drop in wind, but still the government say they cant rule out more fires in any area of the island.
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The suspect for starting the fire in Sao Roque remains in custody, and another 4 people have also been identified.
yesterday a jerrycan full of petrol was found in Paul da Serra.
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The 3 active fires over night into this morning are in São João Latrão, in the upper zone of São Gonçalo (Funchal), in Câmara de Lobos and in Calheta.
150 homes have been destroyed in the fires making them unfit for use, and over 3000 people have been displaced including tourists.
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The president Albuquerque has said they will again look into aircraft for fighting the fires.
This has been discussed many times in the past and has divided opinions as to the true effectiveness of such an action against the orography of the island.
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A beautiful image captured by Miguel Moniz of a common plant to the island, already popping up through the ashes.
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The hugely popular festival in Monte, Nossa Senhora do Monte, one of the largest religious festivals on the island will be cancelled due to the situation in Madeira.
The festival normally runs for a week with the 14-15 August being the main dates for the festival.
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Very sad to hear that houses that have been evacuated are being targeted for robbery, some people left their doors and windows open in the panic to leave the property.
This is terrible news. We are meant to be travelling to Madeira tomorrow staying at Dorisol Buganvilla, is this area affected? Would you say it is safe to come?
ReplyDeleteWe stay in Buganvilia now . It s safe here.
DeleteMy husband and I are staying near your hotel down by the Lido area and have felt quite safe. As said in a previous message apart from a bit of smoke Tuesday and remnants of ash in the sky falling yesterday all is well. We are here till Monday. I would still come as we love Madeira and this is our seventh time here. This has not put us off. I hope you still come out here.
ReplyDeleteWe are arriving on 12th and are staying in Rua Cidade de Santos 7. I know the fire was rather close to that location 2 days ago - may I ask what should we expect in that area? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, this is reassuring.
ReplyDeleteWe are due to travel tomorrow to Funchal and stay in the Cliff Bay Hotel. I spoke to the hotel this morning and they said they still had problems with smoke in the sky which was affecting the area. Any reassurance on the current status would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteIt is still smoky in Funchal but all seems calm and back to normal, there is still a bit of ash floating about, but all fine
DeleteWe have been here since Friday, still smoky over Funchal, but all seems back to normal, everything ok
DeleteHi there
ReplyDeletewe are stayimg in a place near Canico next week.Please can someone let me know if this is affected and whether flights are making it safely -travelling with husband and 2 children and rather apprehensive
Hi, I live near Canico (Assomada) and so far it has been very calm here apart from a tiny bit of ash in the garden and a very slight smell of smoke which you wouldn't have noticed ordinarily. The only 'active' fire that I am aware of fairly nearby is in Sao Goncalao. I would say that everyone is so vigilant now and the fire-fighting resources are being reinforced that I would be surprised if you had a problem by next week. Not exactly sure where you are heading but I certainly wouldn't put you off coming with the current information available. I hope that all goes well for you all.
DeleteWe
ReplyDeleteare due to fly out to golden residence in funchal any news on this location
Thank you for all the updates. Very appreciated!
ReplyDeleteAre flights operating normally?
ReplyDeleteWe are due to stay in Funchal from Saturday and when we heard about the fire, we phoned British Airways who were unaware of the problem! Have since heard from others on social media that flights have been diverted to Tenerife and other Spanish destinations
Any advice would be welcomed.
For the most part the airport seems to have been operating normally as I live fairly nearby - I think there may have been some problems yesterday but according to the airport website the BA flight today is actually due in early and planes have been landing this afternoon. There is always a risk with diversion due to the high and gusting winds we get here (though not today) but in my opinion UK BA flights have one of the best records of being able to land. Hope you get here safely and have a great holiday.
DeleteThe airport link is http://www.ana.pt/en-US/Aeroportos/Madeira/Funchal/Arrivals/FlightInformation/Pages/FlightInformation.aspx
Due to arrive in a villa between Calheta and Prezeres, is the situation stable in this area? I checked with the villa and they say the villa is fine as closer to sea level than the forests. I have heard of power cuts in the area?
ReplyDeleteMy best wishes to the good people of Madeira at this trying time.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThe airport is all back to normal and flights are fine.
There is no reason for anyone not to come to Madeira, everything is getting back to normal very quickly now, and the smoke is lifting from Funchal. If you look at this blog post, you can see that new life is already emerging from the ashes, the island will be green and beautiful as always in a very short time.
Tobi.
my hubby flew back to manchester yesterday from our house in madeira, no flight delays and he didnt even know about the fires until i told him before he left, so come on and still enjoy madeira and your holiday xx
DeleteI am in England and my husband and son are staying in our flat in Funchal. It was a frantic situation on Tuesday night. Can I just thank you Tobl for being the only source of information I could find on the internet that was giving any update at all as to what was happening. It was greatly appreciated. They are fine and as it turned out, we have not lost our home but it was touch and go for a while.
ReplyDeletei second the comment above - Tobi really has done a fantastic job in keeping us all up to date about the situation on Madeira via his brilliant blog.
ReplyDeleteCanico is fine ,just a bit of ,no fires here
ReplyDeleteshould have said just a bit of smoke
ReplyDeleteshould have said just a bit of smoke
ReplyDeleteFlights seem to be okay now as people are arriving and departing every day from our hotel. The Cliff Bay hotel in close to us and we hardly have any smoke and ash today. Blue sky is back overhead, the sun is shining etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping us updated - here in the UK you have been the only reliable and detailed source!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to coming out in a couple of weeks and enjoying this beautiful island.
Thoughts and prayers to all affected.
Another vote for Toni's excellent blog here. The only regular source of update that I could find anywhere on the internet!
ReplyDeleteJust been looking at the excellent webcam images too - all looked a bit hazy this morning because of the smoke in the skies but starting to look a bit clearer now.
Hope those responsible for this are quickly dealt with and locked away for a long, long time.
Cannot wait for our 2 weeks in Madeira, starting next week at the Orca Praia hotel :)
It will be our first visit to the island and we'll do everything we can to support the locals within those 2 weeks.....
Sorry, TOBI ... not Toni :-)
Delete'B' and 'N' too close on the keyboard
Thank you Tobi for your excellent updates on the fires. We are due to visit Madeira in two weeks time staying in Funchal so have been very worried. Hope things are getting back to normal and everyone on the island is safe. Looking forward to our first visit to your lovely island.
ReplyDeleteRose
Wish you all well and hope it improves. Love Madeira and are due on a cruise in September.
ReplyDeleteWe'd like to thank you wholeheartedly as well, Tobi! Staying in Caniço de Baixo for two weeks until next Tuesday, your blog and updates were tremendously helpful. Especially as we don't speak Portuguese and Google Translate can be quite tedious. We were specifically thankful for the way you informed us; very empathetic and not at all sensational as many other channels are! (For example: news from Monday about people waiting for 12 hours at the airport due WIND not fire, were later mixed in the reports of fire). Thanks for your calming comments as well!
ReplyDeleteFor those who are about to come here on vacation: In Caniço de Baixo we were not affected; we only saw / smelled smoke. Today all the roads were free, so we could easily drive to a levada for a walk. Even though some walking routes may be blocked, Madeira is so large and has so many many beautiful routes you can walk and places to go to. Don't be put off! Yesterday the couple in the next apartment booked a flight home (one week earlier as planned), because of the fires - and regretted it badly this morning...
Good luck to all of you, be safe and enjoy this beautiful island! Thanks again Tobi!
Hi Tobi
ReplyDeleteA huge thank you for your blog. It has helped us see what was going on. We stayed in the Monte Carlo hotel earlier this year (February) and were horrified to see what was happening, especially as it appears to have been deliberate. It was lovely to see the picture of new life fighting through the Ashes. It goes to show that it takes more than a moron with a can of petrol to destroy true beauty. We wish you and all the people of Madeira the very best for the future and look forward or selves to returning soon.
There was an unconfirmed mention of the gardens at Monte being destroyed. Was there any update on this? Has the church at Monte survived?
Hi Tobi
ReplyDeleteA huge thank you for your blog. It has helped us see what was going on. We stayed in the Monte Carlo hotel earlier this year (February) and were horrified to see what was happening, especially as it appears to have been deliberate. It was lovely to see the picture of new life fighting through the Ashes. It goes to show that it takes more than a moron with a can of petrol to destroy true beauty. We wish you and all the people of Madeira the very best for the future and look forward or selves to returning soon.
There was an unconfirmed mention of the gardens at Monte being destroyed. Was there any update on this? Has the church at Monte survived?
I would just like to say how kind and helpful the people of madeira are, we left our hotel Pestana casino on tuesday evening as we could see many fires erupting and explosions goong off, the smoke was very thick, we could hardly see out of the balcony window, our 2 boys were very scared, so we decided to go to the harbour, the air was thick with heat and ash, we stopped in a gelato shop to take shelter and buy water, they rang a taxi for us, the driver took us to a hotel in camaro de lobos to get away from the smoke, that was full, so he took us to his home where we stayed the night. We cannot thank him and his family enough, these people should not have such devastation brought upon their lives, the perpetrators should be doused in petrol and set alight themselves, if they like fire that much, they should feel the true horror of it themselves
ReplyDeleteI would just like to say how kind and helpful the people of madeira are, we left our hotel Pestana casino on tuesday evening as we could see many fires erupting and explosions goong off, the smoke was very thick, we could hardly see out of the balcony window, our 2 boys were very scared, so we decided to go to the harbour, the air was thick with heat and ash, we stopped in a gelato shop to take shelter and buy water, they rang a taxi for us, the driver took us to a hotel in camaro de lobos to get away from the smoke, that was full, so he took us to his home where we stayed the night. We cannot thank him and his family enough, these people should not have such devastation brought upon their lives, the perpetrators should be doused in petrol and set alight themselves, if they like fire that much, they should feel the true horror of it themselves
ReplyDeleteDue to fly to same hotel on Monday is it safe? Really anxious about coming out ��
DeleteYes, it is fine now, you would not know that the fires had happened. Great hotel, beautiful place, no need to worry. We will come back again next year, the town is back to normal, vibrant and full of
Deletepeople, cafes and bars full, smoke has cleared, my friend who does madeira sidecar tours, filipe, helped us, he is a great guy
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteANYONE COMING TO MADEIRA OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I HAVE JUST MADE A NEW BLOG POST AND I HOPE THIS REASSURES YOU ALL. I HAVE PUT THIS IN CAPITAL LETTERS TO STAND OUT. I AM NOT SHOUTING AT YOU ALL. :-) Anyone who has commented on my blog, if you email me I will send you my 50 things to see and do in Madeira. Just put 50 things in the email subject
ReplyDeleteTobi what is your email address please
DeleteHi, link to my email is on the right hand side under connect with me. But I have it here for you tobbinmadeira@gmail.com
DeleteHey Tobi, thank you so much for the information you put on this blog. Me and my friend are coming on monday and can not wait to experience this beautiful island. We were really nervous and sad in relation to what happened to the beautiful flora, fauna and people there :( but it is so relieving and good to hear that now everything seem to be getting back to normal.
ReplyDeleteHi Ani,
DeleteThat was my thought exactly... Reading (and experiencing live here on Madeira) that everything is getting back to normal is a relief! It is sad that other news channels are only "in" for sensational news. You don't read about the "back to normal" and "relieving" aspects on the news! Which is really sad - and bad for the people on Madeira who rely on tourism I guess.
You can really look forward to Monday - we had a wonderful walk today in the sun!!
Thank you, and i totally agree with you about the media...My mom even told me "are you sure you need to go to Madeira?" Based on what she heard from tv....Yes i am looking forward to a beautiful and exciting week ! :) I just wanted to ask also if we need to book any levada trips in advance or it is okey to book when there?
DeleteOur very first levada walk was a guided tour which we booked in our hotel after arrival. So this should be sufficient. After that we did all our tours on our own; we always rent a car so we are indepedent!
Deletewe left on Tuesday morning, the flight delays and cancellations were due to the high winds which were so bad the umbrellas were dancing, the heat last week was unheard of, 37 degrees so added to the problems putting out the fire
ReplyDeleteI have friends still there who said Tuesday was a horrible day due to the smell and the smoke but today they are back in the swimming pool, the hairdryer in your face winds have gone and it is back to normal for the tourists but devastation for the locals
Myself and five others are travelling to maderia and staying at the quinta day visas palace gardens from 7th October is this anywhere near where rhe fires have been could someone please let me know as we have just found about it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMyself and five others are travelling to maderia and staying at the quinta day visas palace gardens from 7th October is this anywhere near where rhe fires have been could someone please let me know as we have just found about it. Thanks.
ReplyDelete