Firefighters have managed to control a massive forest fire on the Portuguese island of Madeira that had been raging for 11 days, but officials announced on Sunday that they would stay on site to prevent any resurgence. The fire, which ignited on August 14, has consumed over 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) of vegetation, predominantly in rugged mountainous regions where the terrain is steep and access is challenging.
"The fire is now under control, but it cannot be deemed extinguished yet, so the teams will stay alert on the ground to thwart potential flare-ups," regional civil protection commander Antonio Nunes informed news agency Lusa. Efforts to combat the flames were hindered by unfavorable weather conditions, including high temperatures, gusty winds, and low humidity. EU authorities dispatched two Canadair planes to assist in extinguishing the fire. The regional government confirmed that there were no injuries, no homes burned, and no critical infrastructure damaged.
Madeira, an Atlantic island and an autonomous region of Portugal with approximately 250,000 inhabitants, is a renowned tourist spot. Rising global temperatures due to climate change have resulted in more frequent wildfires, affecting areas from southern and eastern Europe to North America and parts of Asia.
