More than five hundred Poles are among crowds of frustrated tourists stranded at the Portuguese island of Madeira’s main airport due to cancellations caused by high winds and wildfires.
The island’s Cristiano Ronaldo airport has been forced to cancel over 80 flights since Saturday due to difficulty with taking off and landing safely, and the situation is getting worse, local media report.
Private Polish radio station RMF FM said on its website that many of those trapped at the airport had rolled out camping mats and sleeping bags on the terminal floor, while madeiraislandnews.com wrote that the airport had been transformed into a “real dormitory.”
Polish Radio reported that the airport is completely paralyzed and that the air conditioning is not working. The news service also noted that some of the Poles affected had been moved by tour companies to nearby hotels, while others were forced to camp out in the departure lounge. Madeira Island News reported that many of those stuck at the airport are receiving no support from ground staff or airlines.
“We can’t leave the airport, we can’t get to our luggage, because the airport is completely paralyzed,” one Polish tourist told RMF FM. “There are people here with children, older people... there is no air conditioning at the airport.”
Cristiano Ronaldo airport is susceptible to strong winds as it is situated close to the island’s Atlantic shoreline. In addition to the high winds, Madeira is also battling wildfires and the island’s authorities have declared a state of emergency, Polish Radio said. RMF FM reported local civil protection authorities as saying that forest fires have engulfed swathes of the island’s central district destroying over 5,000 hectares of trees and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people.
TVP Info wrote that the fires, which broke out last week, are being exacerbated by the high winds and scorching summer temperatures. The news service added that 79 specialist firefighters had arrived from the mainland to tackle the blazes. Meanwhile, record August temperatures have caused wildfires to break out across southern Europe with the risk spreading due to climate change, the EU’s civil protection and humanitarian aid service said.
RMF FM cited local TV broadcaster RTP Madeira as saying the situation at the island’s main airport is deteriorating as more tourists arrive.
Poland’s foreign ministry said it is being kept informed of the situation and is trying to offer what assistance it can. The ministry also said the Poles concerned are not in danger.
Private Polish radio station RMF FM said on its website that many of those trapped at the airport had rolled out camping mats and sleeping bags on the terminal floor, while madeiraislandnews.com wrote that the airport had been transformed into a “real dormitory.”
Polish Radio reported that the airport is completely paralyzed and that the air conditioning is not working. The news service also noted that some of the Poles affected had been moved by tour companies to nearby hotels, while others were forced to camp out in the departure lounge. Madeira Island News reported that many of those stuck at the airport are receiving no support from ground staff or airlines.
“We can’t leave the airport, we can’t get to our luggage, because the airport is completely paralyzed,” one Polish tourist told RMF FM. “There are people here with children, older people... there is no air conditioning at the airport.”
Cristiano Ronaldo airport is susceptible to strong winds as it is situated close to the island’s Atlantic shoreline. In addition to the high winds, Madeira is also battling wildfires and the island’s authorities have declared a state of emergency, Polish Radio said. RMF FM reported local civil protection authorities as saying that forest fires have engulfed swathes of the island’s central district destroying over 5,000 hectares of trees and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people.
TVP Info wrote that the fires, which broke out last week, are being exacerbated by the high winds and scorching summer temperatures. The news service added that 79 specialist firefighters had arrived from the mainland to tackle the blazes. Meanwhile, record August temperatures have caused wildfires to break out across southern Europe with the risk spreading due to climate change, the EU’s civil protection and humanitarian aid service said.
RMF FM cited local TV broadcaster RTP Madeira as saying the situation at the island’s main airport is deteriorating as more tourists arrive.
Poland’s foreign ministry said it is being kept informed of the situation and is trying to offer what assistance it can. The ministry also said the Poles concerned are not in danger.
Source: rmf24.pl, polskieradio24.pl, madeiraislandnews.com, TVP Info
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