Funchal Opens Bus Lanes to Speed Up Storm Exit
Funchal city council and the PSP opened the city's bus lanes to general traffic on Tuesday, to help residents leave the centre faster as storm Charles worsens.
Funchal city council and the PSP opened the city's bus lanes to general traffic on Tuesday, to help residents leave the centre faster as storm Charles worsens.
Madeira's regional president, Miguel Albuquerque, says private companies, not the government, should decide whether to send staff home during the storm.
Câmara de Lobos is preparing community centers and a school pavilion as emergency shelters, as IPMA issues red and orange weather warnings for storm Charles.
Madeira's Civil Protection service tests a preventive SMS alert system this afternoon, sent in Portuguese and English, as a red weather warning approaches.
IPMA's regional delegate says Tuesday night's storm, linked to depression Charles, cannot be compared to Madeira's deadly flood disaster of February 2010.
Madeira's government has ordered schools closed until 13:00 on Wednesday after IPMA issued a red warning for heavy rain and wind overnight.
IPMA has raised rain and wind warnings to red, the highest level, for Madeira's south coast and mountains from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Funchal's deputy mayor admits past roadworks worsened flooding in three recurring trouble spots and promises structural fixes before new storms hit this week.
Madeira will raise hiking trail fees for non-residents to €7.50 from April 2027, with busier routes up to €18, and extend new fees to protected diving sites.
Marina do Funchal is getting 33 new commercial spaces, including four restaurants and three bars, awarded by public tender and due to open by late November.
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