Mónica Seidi visited area affected by bad weather in Ribeira Quente - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Desporto

The Regional Secretary for Health and Sport, who is responsible for Civil Protection services, visited last Thursday Ribeira Quente, a parish hit by bad weather.

Following the landslide that disrupted this week the traffic on the access to the parish, the government visited the site accompanied by the Regional Director for Public Works, Pedro Azevedo, and the President of Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, Major Rui Andrade.

Mónica Seidi urged the population to observe the rules established for road traffic, "considering the risks that may still exist, but also to ensure that the work to clear the road continues to be carried out as normally as possible at this time."

For the time being "the most important thing is to restore the traffic, and for this to happen, it is imperative that the road be cleared" and, in due course, other measures will be taken, she stressed.

The Regional Secretary pointed out the fact that there were "no fatalities or personal injuries to any resident, tourist or worker."

I want to take this moment to once again publicly thank and acknowledge the efforts of the teams that, during the early hours of the morning, did not lower their guard and continued their work in the face of adverse weather conditions" to clear the road and restore power.

Mónica Seidi also praised the efforts of the Civil Protection service and the regular contact established with the Civil Protection office of the municipality of Povoação since Monday. According to her, this contact "was intensified throughout the day on Tuesday with the Mayor of Povoação, the Parish Council of Ribeira Quente, the President of Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service and the Regional Director for Public Works, who was monitoring and directing the works."

And she added: "I believe it is quite clear that the Regional Government responded adequately within the reach of its powers."

The road between Furnas and Ribeira Quente is closed to traffic from 8 am today until 12 pm on Saturday, June 10.

This decision follows a yellow warning for rain issued by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere - IPMA. 

According to the technical indications from the Centre for Information and Seismovolcanic Surveillance of the Azores (CIVISA) and the verifications carried out on-site by the Regional Directorate for Public Works, there is currently an increased landslide risk in the most vulnerable areas of the access road to Ribeira Quente.

Given the instability of slopes and soils, as well as the existence of fully or partially loose or exposed materials (rocks, logs, dirt...) due to the effects of the Oscar Depression, it is expected that lower-intensity factors may aggravate the risk of new landslides.

Despite the disruption of traffic, vehicles used for the regular supply of goods to Ribeira Quente as well as service and safety vehicles will be allowed to use the road. Nevertheless, they will be subject to the operational constraints imposed by the teams that will be permanently on the ground.