Five-star hotel destroyed by deadly wildfires on Madeira
Three people have died, one is missing, two have been seriously hurt and hundreds of others have received treatment for burns following wildfires on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
The fires have been burning since Monday as temperatures hit over 35c and a thousand people have been evacuated from homes and hotels.
The five-star Choupana Hills hotel (pictured above) was one of several buildings destroyed as wildfires advanced upon the capital Funchal.
The hotel was voted Europe’s Leading Boutique Resort in the 2014 World Travel Awards and was popular for romantic breaks and honeymoons.
It has received dozens of messages of support from customers on its Facebook page, some from guests who had to be evacuated when the fires approached.
One said: " We had two lovely days with you. All of you were superb in evacuating us so calmly and efficiently yesterday. The ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos are so sad – we were at that poolside yesterday afternoon! We are ever so grateful to you for looking after us yesterday. We wish you all the luck in the world and hope you will be able to rebuild and reopen soon."
Another past guest said: "Oh my god! I am totally shocked and can hardly believe this happend. We hope all of you are safe and well. We loved that place. For us its been the most beautiful hotel on the island. We hope to come back sometimes. I hardly can’t wait. Our thougts are with you all."
The hotel apologised to guests and advised anyone with forward bookings to contact their tour operator or travel agent.
Meanwhile, flights have been disrupted at Madeira airport, with UK holidaymakers facing delays returning home.
Over 3,200 firefighters and 23 water-dumping aircraft have been tackling the blazes, but steep hills and dense woodland around Funchal are hampering efforts.
A Madeira blogger said this morning: "A pall of smoke still hangs over the bay of Funchal and the smell of burning pervades. People with respiratory problems will be having a tough time, and whilst no tourists have been injured, a lot have been displaced, and they cannot be quite enjoying the holiday they were expecting."
Real Madrid stiker Cristiano Ronaldo, who was born in Funchal, has offered financial support to the island.
He posted a message on his Facebook page saying :"It is with an aching heart that I’m seeing what’s happening in Madeira and other parts of the country."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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