- The blaze in Madeira's forest has been effectively tamed.
The substantial blaze on the Portuguese Atlantic island of Madeira is currently being managed, thanks to the intervention of two Spanish firefighting aircraft. As per reports from the state news agency Lusa, the regional head of civil protection, António Nunes, mentioned, "The fire is settling down. There are still some hotspots and possible minor re-ignitions, which is typical."
These Spanish aircraft joined forces on Thursday, on request from the EU, following Portugal's appeal for aid. Each of the two aircraft, equipped with twin-engine propellers, can hold approximately 6,000 liters of water. Additionally, the arrival of fog with high humidity proved beneficial.
The Spanish aircraft have primarily been stationed in the mountainous regions surrounding Pico Ruivo. Previously, the island's sole firefighting helicopter had struggled to control the flames in this area. Pico Ruivo is the island's highest peak, exceeding 1,800 meters in height.
As per data from the Copernicus Earth observation program, the wildfire that erupted on August 14 has scorched around 5,000 hectares of the environment. This equates to nearly double the size of the East Frisian island of Borkum.
At present, no reports of injuries or property damage have been registered. However, experts are expressing concern over the substantial environmental damage inflicted due to the loss of vegetation and wildlife.
According to Lusa, the criminal police are currently investigating the cause of the fire. Yet, regional president of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, has already hinted towards arson as a possibility.
The Spanish firefighting aircraft were dispatched to Lusa-reported fires in Madeira due to a EU request. After struggling initially, the recent arrival of these aircraft has aided in controlling the wildfire near Pico Ruivo.
