President Albuquerque's Firestorm of Denial

President Sees “Limited Impact” in 2024 Wildfires

Speaking at an event, President Miguel Albuquerque expressed staggering bureaucratic confidence that “the correct procedures” were followed during the devastating 2024 fires in Madeira. He insisted that the fires caused no severe property damage, injuries, or fatalities, with limited impact on Madeira’s natural environment.

Scorched Earth: When the Smoke Clears

With popular hiking trails closed until 2025, more than 5,000 hectares of land burned, entire landscapes devastated, the Laurisilva forest impacted, firefighters heavily criticizing authorities and dozens of residents being permanently displaced from their homes in the aftermath, calling it a “limited impact” seems like something only Albuquerque could come up with. Who is he kidding?

Calls for Careful Firefighting Strategies

Furthermore, he also stressed the importance of caution when responding to fires, especially to protect firefighters. Recalling a tragic incident 24 years ago where two firefighters died in a landslide, he emphasized that fighting fires should never put responders at unnecessary risk. “The aim is to protect lives, not to put people in harm’s way,” he said. Thus the president is blatantly ignoring the fact that calls for additional air support had already been voiced when he decided to leave Madeira to resume his beach holiday in Porto Santo. Recalling this makes it clear why he is anything but eager to talk about the topic.

Opposition Party Criticizes Government Responses

The opposition party Reagir Incluir Reciclar (RIR) criticized the inquiry testimony of Pedro Ramos, Secretary of Civil Protection, calling it “a complete farce.” According to RIR coordinator Liana Reis, Ramos dodged questions, dismissed evidence, and relied on allies for support. Reis accused Ramos and Albuquerque of trying to avoid responsibility for the August fires.

This Secretary (Pedro Ramos) systematically hides the truth, hiding behind his posture of arrogance and arrogance, just like Miguel Albuquerque

Liana Reis, Diário de Notícias da Madeira

Demand Greater Transparency And Accountability!

Reis further urged Madeira residents to demand greater transparency and accountability from the regional government, saying the leadership is “deceiving and failing” the public. This inquiry into the August fires remains a heated issue, with calls for clearer responses and improvements in crisis management moving forward.

Sources:
Diário de Notícias da Madeira
Diário de Notícias da Madeira