Madeira Times - The English On-Line Newspaper

Operation Clean Up

The Clean up continues a month after the storm and subsequent floods. Here are a few before and after photos of the impressive progress in getting the island back to normal.

The area and road known as Dos Mil and to the side is the new Dolce Vita Shopping centre, you can see in the top photo how the machines are clearing the river. As a result and shown by the two lower photos, part of the main road has had to be removed as it was severly damaged and work has now started to rebuild that stretch of road. Dolce Vita shopping centre is open again, but the car park and many of the shops on the lower floor are still closed.

Comments

We phone up the family straight away when we heard the news. It was heartbreaking. We pray for your beautiful island and know it will recover it's beauty.

(Posted on 2010-03-14 17:35:00 by Hettie)
We were in Funchal at the begining of February, two weeks before this storm, and experienced very high (50') waves then but nothing like this. Poor Madeira, it must have been dreadful. So glad to see and hear that it is recovering.

(Posted on 2010-02-27 19:22:00 by Arabella)
Good to see the clean up photos - much admiration for all those working in such difficulties to clear the debris.A fantastic workforce & spirit. A fantastic island.

(Posted on 2010-02-25 14:19:00 by Glenys Riddell)
You've got to admire the resilience. Where I live the worst we get is snow and ice, and that all melts eventually. With the landslides it's a case of 'Let's move it, chaps.'

(Posted on 2010-02-25 11:02:00 by Terry Marsh)

Serra de Agua pics

more Funchal pics

Pics of other areas

The Marina and surrounding areas did not escape the floods as the torrents of water headed for the sea, taking everything with it. Stones, boulders and debris dragged along the forceful flow, buried statues, roads and roundabouts. The Marina is open to traffic and some of the restaurants below have opened their doors too.