I write this at 2 am Sunday morning on the American east coast, a few hours after receiving an email from Ricardo Freitas of Vinhos Barbeito. He informed me that heavy rains early Saturday had turned into torrential floods, rushing down Madeira’s mountainsides and leaving devastation in their wake. As of this morning, 32 people are reported dead and scores injured.
Ricardo wrote:
Though the intensity of the storm seems to have been unexpected, violent weather has been ongoing in recent days. Earlier this week, he told me by phone that the island was being buffeted by 60mph winds.
A man is rescued trying to cross a downtown Funchal street.
The downtown area of Funchal, the capital city, has been particularly hard hit, with torrents of water rushing through the streets, and exploding through buildings, seeking a path to the sea.
A number of graphic videos of the storm’s effect have appeared on the internet, such as at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrL96TlcDbQ&feature=related
http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=45871700
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/weather/2010/02/20/vassileva.portugal.mudslide.cnn
While Madeira is often described as an island paradise, floods are sadly not at all unknown. The most famous occurred in October of 1803, when more than 500 people were described as being “swept out to sea” by floods that also destroyed most of the year’s wine crop and ripped houses from their foundations.
Ricardo wrote that, because of the high waters and downed trees, mud and debris, it is impossible to travel and that he and others have been left helpless to watch what is happening on television. As a result, it is likely to be some time before the true extent of the loss of life and property is understood.
Our thoughts and prayers are with our good friends on this wonderful island.
