Comments on: Dark Waters

By: Shaun

Shaun — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:23:06 +0000

The type of disaster which happened in Funchal and Ribiera Brava is not unknown in England. Google “Boscastle Flood 2004″ and separately “1952 Lynmouth Flood” for details of two better known ones on the south-west coast of England.

Lynmouth bears striking similarities to what happened in Madeira 20/02/10. In that case 24 people were lost from one small village.

These are ‘normal’ natural disasters having nothing to do with global warming or cooling. Call it “God having a bad day”.

I was in the valley of the Ribiera Brava from 12th to 18th February. There was a landslide up near Estalagem Encumeada overnight Sunday/Monday. At 0815 we went down the hill on the #6 bus, which managed to get past without incident. The mountains were saturated and this slide showed how wet they were.

I was well impressed that, by the time we returned from Funchal that night, the slide had been all cleared away and the road was fully functional. Right now I must compliment the workers and managers responsible for the rapid response.

I was very upset to hear what happened on the Saturday and sympathise with all those who lost loved ones. Madeira will sort this out. People who cling to the sides of mountains are tough, resilient people. I saw how you built your levadas.

I am aware of how many Maderians died during the tunnelling and the building of the via rapida. I am also aware they died in part for me, so that I could drive from Funchal, via Ribiera Brava and Sao Vincente to Porto Moniz in less than an hour.

I love your island. I love your people and I will be back, next time hopefully with a few more euros to help your economy. Thank you for giving me the most wonderful holiday of my life.

Obrigado eu.

By: Gavin

Gavin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:49:39 +0000

Well, talking of climate change can sometimes be laced with cliche. However it is entirely pertinent to bring it into conversation when ‘freak’ weather phenomena laces an island that is often referred to as ‘the pearl of the atlantic.’ Many people regard Madeira to have a climate that is just about as close to perfect as one could possibly hope for. The editor is right in saying that the worlds weather systems are changing. Climatalogical research by scientists tells us that it always has changed, pre-industrialization and anthropomorphic activity. However this is not to say that we (Homo Sapiens) are not a cause of global warming. I’m sure many readers are aware of the term; ‘anthropocene,’ it is simply a tweeking of the term ‘holocene epoch’ which is an interglacial period in the earths climactic cycle which we are evidently living in. However Anthropocene, refers to the effect that human beings have on the planet, as a kind of speeding up of the earths natural cycles, therefore giving civilization and technological advancement less time to react to such rapid change. It is ironic how industrialization and technology caused the so-called anthropocene, it is now going to be the ONLY solution. We have, as a species always being adabtable to our environment and in the perpetually-advancing technological era in which we find ourselves, there is no reason to suggest that we cannot as a species adapt to an ever-changing climate. The discussion of global warming needs to be stripped of its pessimism and misanthropy if we are to adapt cohesively and sucessfully and also stripped of cliche if we are to have a serious discussion on the matter. I find the editors last paragraph on this post admirable and completely agree with him, it is only adabtability and agreement to change that we can prosper.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:58:05 +0000

We are due to travel to Madeira in July and have been three times previously. We love the island and are so sorry to hear about the terrible floods. We wish you well with the work that you now face. Please can anyone tell me whether the Hotel Porto Santa Maria has been affected? thank you.

By: gilly

gilly — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:10:24 +0000

My thoughts are with Madeira what a trajedy, be strong hoping that you will recover your Beautiful island, I lived there many years ago and I LOVE MADEIRA it will always be in my heart.

By: Marta (vieira) Monteiro

Marta (vieira) Monteiro — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:38:22 +0000

I am a transplant in the US from Madeira. We still have some family there on the Island and were heartbroken to hear of the devestation. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We are curious if (like 9/11, the Tsunami, and more recent the devestation in Haiti) Is there a place to go to send aid/donations to assist and help rebuild?

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:12:32 +0000

Thank you for your thoughts and support. We are still seeing disturbing images on the local news … it was really a catastrophe … I have no words for it. I think Mother Nature had a very bad day that Saturday.

By: Patti Picasso

Patti Picasso — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:32:56 +0000

This post is for Don Amaro. We had news in our paper about the tragedy on your island. My husband and I visited there several months ago and you and I exchanged a few Emails after you had read my blog about the wonderful experience we had while we were there. I am so sorry about what happened but am glad to know that you are all right. Here in our part of Texas we just had a record breaking snowfall which is very unusual for our part of the world and over 22,000 homes in our area were without power for days. My children were one of those families. We all survived this new adventure in our lives and are thankful for our many blessings. Check out my blog for photographs of the snow if you’re interested. http://pattycake1aolcom.blogspot.com/ and go to the last post. I look forward to hearing from you. Pat Salazar

By: Matthijs Does

Matthijs Does — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:26:55 +0000

It hearts to know so many people have lost there live by this disaster and to see the tremendous damage it’s coursed. I was shocked the moment the news reached us in the Netherlands and was very worried about al the friends we know on the island. I wish the people of Madeira much strength the coming time and hope they will recover soon from this tragedy. Our mind is by al victims and casualties.