According to a statement issued by the Council of Ministers, the government of East Timor will donate 2.2 million Euros to Madeira in connection with the fire that occurred on the 14th.
The government of East Timor approved a donation of 2.2 million euros to support Madeira on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Council of Ministers.
The draft resolution was presented by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and the donation aims to support the “recovery of damages caused by the fire”.
“The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, in a spirit of solidarity and commitment to cooperation among peoples, expresses its support for the brother Portuguese people and the population of the island of Madeira, granting this donation to help in the recovery of the damage caused by the fires”the Timorese government highlights in the statement.
The rural fire on the island of Madeira broke out on 14 August in the mountains of the municipality of Ribeira Brava, gradually spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and Santana.
On Tuesday, after 13 days, regional civil protection said the fire was “completely extinguished.”
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System indicate that more than 5,104 hectares of burnt land area have been reached.
During the days the fire raged, authorities ordered nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and provided public reception facilities, but many residents returned home.
The fight against the flames was hampered by the wind and high temperatures, but, according to the regional government, there were no injuries or destruction of homes and essential public infrastructure, although some small agricultural productions were affected, as well as forest areas.
The Judicial Police are investigating the cause of the fire, but the president of the Madeiran government, Miguel Albuquerque, said it was arson.
Source: Observadora
