Message from Madeira

Created by sue. Last modified on 2010-02-24 19:34:35
Countries: Madeira

Portugal is observing three days of mourning after the weekend floods and landslides, which killed at least 42 people.

Dozens of residents were evacuated from their homes for fear of new mudslides and rescuers are expecting to find more bodies in flooded car parks and mud-filled homes as more buildings threaten to cave in.

Catia Carvalho of Marina Quinta do Lorde, Madeira, reported to noonsite:

"We are all ok here at Quinta do Lorde Marina.

Our houses and families are ok. Machico, where we live and where the marina is located had not much damages.

The marina and the boats are safe.

Our current clients on the boats, Canadians and British, are doing volunteer work at Funchal and helping the ones that lost their houses and families.

All the marinas around the island are safe. Funchal Marina has alot of mud but nothing more.

This was an unexpected natural force, which shocked all of us, but Madeira Island will recover and get even stronger. The important thing now is to help the ones that have lost their houses and personal belongings and help the economy to continue. The tourism is important and we expect people to continue to come to Madeira.

The Tourism promotional programme for 2010 will not change:
April 2010
•From the 1st to the 4th – Easter celebrations
•17th & 18th- Flower Festival - Wall of Hope Ceremony & Allegoric Parade June 2010
•During all month – Madeira Atlantic Festival, with several musical events August 2010 - Traditional gastronomic and cultural festivities around the island all weekends.
September 2010
• 2nd to 5th – Madeira Wine Festival - Shows and exhibitions in Funchal
•4th - Madeira Wine Festival - Live Harvest in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos
•16th to 18th – Columbus Festival in Porto Santo Island November 2010
• 22th on – Christmas in Madeira - Christmas lights, decorations and exhibitions in Funchal
December 2010
•1st on – Christmas in Madeira - Christmas lights, decorations and exhibitions in Funchal

The airport is fully operating and the hotels are ok. North side of the island is ok and safe to visit."

Links for images of Funchal city 72 hours after the storm . The forecast is that Funchal will be fully recuperated in about 1 week time.