"It was much worse than 2003!" The certainty is given by many of those who saw the fire pass swiftly and destructively through their properties, in the parish of Alferce, in Monchique, on Sunday night.
From Monchicão to Alferce, passing through Laranjeira, Fornalha and other small towns, gray and black are the dominant tones. Continuing along the road, you can see semi-destroyed houses, but also others that are almost intact.
The smell of the aromatic plants that Vitorino Rodrigues cultivates in Laranjeira, in biological mode, is today that of tobacco. But the smile lingers on this young farmer's face. «We have to lift our heads and walk forward», he believes.
“In 2003, it was different, it was more relaxed. The scenario today is really bleak. In an instant, the fire was up here. It passed the Fornalha at 20 pm and at nine o'clock it was already down here [in Laranjeira] and we were being evacuated», Vitorino told Sul Informação.
In his case, he lost most of the production. “My wife and I have an organic farming project here, which was going very well. We were very excited and walking very hard. Now, let's continue», he assured.
Today, fire continues to plow not far from there. But, taking into account that there is little left to burn, those who live in this area of the municipality of Monchique are already thinking about tomorrow. But don't forget about yesterday.
In the Furnace, "no one even came to help", assures whoever was there. Most of the inhabitants of this town fled before the fire broke out, but there were those who stayed behind to protect their belongings, at the risk of their lives.
To reach this place, be careful with the fallen trees on the road. All along the road that connects Porto de Lagos to Alferce, which also gives access to the Odelouca Dam, you can see burnt-out electricity and telephone poles. In some places, the wires are dropped on the road or at half height, which forces those passing by in a car to be extra careful.
João Augusto tried hard to reach his father's house, which was empty, in the area of Portela da Pedra Branca, but they no longer let him through. “I only managed to get here in the morning and everything had burned down,” he says, disconsolate. Diamantino Augusto's house was almost completely burned, as well as its contents.
"He lost everything he had here: the troop's memories and all his memories," he told the Sul Informação. Where the house and a small workshop used to be, you can only see rubble and smoking material. Also the cars that were there burned completely.
“My father went to spend a week with my brother. It turned out to be his luck. It is now on its way», concluded João.
This was one of the houses that burned near Alferce. At the local Parish Council, this Monday morning was a balance sheet, to see who was left without anything and who needed help. According to the Sul Informação, "more than a dozen houses will have burned". One of them was a 72-year-old woman who was eventually transported by helicopter, in serious condition, to Lisbon, "with first and second degree burns". His house was located at the gates of Alferce.
As you climb the mountain, in addition to the ashes, you often find complaints about the authorities.
Vitorino questioned the options of the civil protection command. "They said there was a plan B. Apparently, it was to let it all burn," he said wryly.
The action of the GNR also deserves criticism from the people, who, in some cases, did not lightly accept the fact that they were forced to evacuate their homes and the land where they live. There were even those who revolted and resisted the evacuation order, as well as people who ended up handcuffed. But the truth is, in many of the places where people were forcibly removed, everything burned down. Or almost.
Photos: Golden Gonçalo|Sul Informação
Comments