Four people were injured and three vehicles destroyed after a rockslide struck the São Vicente–Porto Moniz expressway in Seixal on the afternoon of the 20th of August.
Rocks and earth fell onto the road, striking several vehicles and forcing the expressway to close immediately. Initial reports indicated that at least three vehicles had been hit. Later information suggested that four vehicles were affected, three of which were destroyed.
According to the Mayor of Porto Moniz, the injured were believed to have been taken immediately to local health centres. The mayor stressed that the information available at the time had been provided by residents and firefighters at the scene and had not yet been officially confirmed.
The São Vicente and Porto Moniz Volunteer Fire Brigades were mobilised and provided assistance to those involved.
The incident occurred on a section of the expressway previously identified as particularly vulnerable to falling rocks. The Mayor of Porto Moniz has repeatedly called for work to be undertaken at several points along the route, warning of the risks faced each day by residents, motorists and visitors.
Following the rockslide, JPP representative for Porto Moniz João Jesus visited the affected section of the expressway with the party’s secretary-general, Élvio Sousa.
The visit took place at Sítio da Pedra, also known as Casa dos Guardas, an area affected by repeated rockslides. João Jesus criticised what he described as a lack of action by the relevant authorities and accused the Regional Government of allowing a dangerous situation to continue for years.
“For the President of the Regional Government, the imminent danger of rockslides, which have now injured another four people at Sítio da Pedra, is ‘political demagoguery,” the JPP representative said.
João Jesus claimed that intervention plans have existed and funding has been included in the Regional Budget since 2015 for the construction of the João Delgado tunnel along this section of the road. However, he said that no work has yet been carried out.
The continued absence of intervention has caused persistent concern among residents and motorists, he added.
“Nothing has been done. The instability at Sítio da Pedra remains, and rocks continue to fall regularly,” João Jesus warned.
Referring to studies undertaken by the Regional Government, he said rocks of varying sizes fall almost daily along an approximately 200-metre section of the expressway, particularly at the exit of the João Delgado tunnel and at Sítio da Pedra.
He also highlighted the volume of traffic using the road, estimating that around five vehicles pass every minute, equivalent to approximately 7,200 vehicle movements over 24 hours. He noted that traffic is considerably heavier during the daytime.
During the visit, João Jesus also accused the Regional Government of neglecting municipalities on Madeira’s north coast.
“Porto Moniz has around 3,000 inhabitants, but it appears that this Government has neither the interest nor the will to resolve the problem, perhaps because it believes the municipality does not represent a significant number of votes,” he said.
He concluded by accusing the authorities of treating north-coast municipalities as secondary and forgotten.
“They are only remembered for photographs promoting Madeira,” he said, warning that the continued danger also threatens the Region’s reputation as a tourist destination.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Views: 156
