Incident Occurred Near Tunnel in Madalena do Mar
A Portuguese tourist between 40 and 50 years old died this morning after a large rock fell onto his car in Madalena do Mar, a small coastal area in the municipality of Ponta do Sol, on the island of Madeira. The incident happened near the entrance of a tunnel close to the fishermen’s neighborhood known as Bairro do Passo.
According to local authorities, the man was on holiday on the island with his partner. The rock fell from a cliff above and landed directly on the vehicle, which was stopped near the tunnel. Emergency services, including firefighters from Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol, responded quickly to the scene, but the man could not be saved despite resuscitation attempts.
Cliff Maintenance Was Scheduled but Delayed by Storms
Cláudia Dias Ferreira, head of the Municipal Civil Protection Office, said that work to remove unstable rocks along that part of the cliff had already been planned for April. However, due to recent bad weather affecting Madeira, the cleanup was postponed.
Unfortunately, in Madalena do Mar, near the Passo neighborhood, a car was parked by the fish market, at the mouth of the tunnel that connects Madalena do Mar to Poço da Areia, when a rock came loose, struck the car, and caused a fatality
Cláudia Dias Ferreira, Diário de NotĂcias da Madeira
We have been periodically engaging with the Regional Directorate of Roads, and the intervention scheduled for that location was planned for April, but it had to be rescheduled due to the period of storms that hit Madeira
Cláudia Dias Ferreira, Diário de NotĂcias da Madeira
She confirmed that the new date for the cliff maintenance has now been set for next week. The operation will focus on removing loose rocks from the area between Cascata dos Anjos and the spot where the fatal accident occurred.
Authorities Confirm Victim Was a National Tourist
The victim was a man from mainland Portugal. Witnesses reported that emergency responders arrived quickly, but the rock’s impact had already caused serious injuries. Officials from the Emergency Medical Response Service (EMIR), police (PSP), and a health officer were called to the site. The man’s identity has not been released publicly, and authorities are expected to continue their investigation to assess risks in the area and prevent similar tragedies.
Risk Along Coastal Roads Remains a Concern
The southern coast of Madeira, known for its steep cliffs and narrow roads carved into rock, has seen several rockfalls in recent years. While barriers and regular cliff inspections are in place in many areas, unpredictable weather and erosion continue to make some locations dangerous, especially after long periods of rain.
Locals and tourists are advised to avoid stopping near cliff bases or tunnel entrances, particularly during or after storms. The regional and municipal governments are under pressure to improve monitoring and speed up maintenance in high-risk zones.
Sources:
JM-Madeira
Diário de NotĂcias da Madeira
RTP Madeira
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