Tuesday, the government had said and elderly bed-ridden person had been killed when their house caught fire.


There is also one other person missing.

The fire broke out on Monday afternoon and so far it has also caused two serious injuries, displaced about a thousand locals and tourists, many houses and a hotel [Choupana Hills] have been destroyed by the blaze and the fire advanced down the hillside to the capital on Tuesday night affecting the historical centre of São Pedro. The damages are massive.

The authorities had to evacuate two hospitals and several hotels and there are about 600 people in barracks, 300 in a football stadium and 50 in a civic centre.

The regional government has said all non-essential employees should not report for work to avoid a large influx of people into the city centre this morning.

About 135 reinforcements, 115 from Lisbon and another 20 from the Azores have been sent to Madeira to help the firefighting crews.