Flooding Threatens Madeira After Fires
Following recent forest fires that have burned at least 5,000 hectares of land, experts are warning of a significant flood risk in Madeira. The island's vulnerable slopes, stripped of protective vegetation, could trigger catastrophic floods similar to those in February 2010, which resulted in 50 deaths and widespread destruction.
Andreas Gehret from Hamburg, Germany, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Experts Demand Immediate And Extensive Preventive Actions
According to SAPO, António Bento Gonçalves, a geography professor at the University of Minho, highlights the urgent need for soil stabilization measures. Without these, Madeira is at high risk of experiencing severe flooding during the upcoming rainy season, starting in autumn. The island’s natural tendency for intense rainfall combined with unprotected slopes makes the situation particularly perilous.
The serious problem is the consequence of the fires: the lack of protection of the soil, the uncovered vegetation that then causes the flood peaks to be higher and the impact of the rain to be potentially greater, precisely because there is no such protection.
Joaquim Sande Silva, quoted by SAPO
Joaquim Sande Silva, a professor at the Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra, adds that previous fires have weakened the soil's ability to regenerate, increasing flood risks. Both experts recommend immediate preventative actions, such as cleaning drainage channels and installing barriers, to reduce the likelihood of disaster. Despite efforts to reinforce vulnerable areas after the 2010 floods, Madeira's steep terrain remains a challenge. The urgent call for action is clear: without immediate intervention, Madeira could face another devastating natural disaster.
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