Civil Protection Union Calls for Resignation of Key Officials Amid Ongoing Madeira Wildfire Crisis

Civil Protection Union Demands Accountability

The National Union of Civil Protection has issued a statement highlighting the urgent need for accountability following seven days of devastating wildfires in Madeira, which have resulted in over 10% of the island burned. The union expresses its deep indignation and concern regarding the management of the situation.

Call for Resignations

In their statement, they are demanding the resignation of António Nunes, the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service, and Pedro Ramos, the regional secretary of Civil Protection. The union emphasizes the total dissatisfaction with how the fire has been handled over the past week.

Urgent Need for External Support

The union criticizes the delay in requesting external assistance, stating, "We cannot delay requests for help, nor can we expect our brave firefighters to continue battling these flames under such physically and psychologically taxing conditions without external aid."

They also question why the Protocol for assistance with the Canary Islands, which is part of the Regional Emergency Plan, has not yet been invoked.

Escalating Crisis

The situation has escalated, with the union describing it as unacceptable that the fire remains active and has intensified without visible effective measures to control or extinguish it. They stress that this scene of devastation reflects a clear lack of leadership and competence from those responsible for the safety and well-being of the community.