Funchal City Council has approved a recommendation to assess emergency access and safety conditions in the Nazaré neighbourhood, particularly in the residential area between Rua da Venezuela and Rua do Brasil.
The proposal, submitted by Chega councillor Luís Filipe Santos, aims to determine if firefighters and other emergency teams can safely reach homes and manoeuvre their vehicles. The assessment will consider potential obstructions from street furniture, concrete structures, walls, and vegetation.
The review will involve relevant municipal departments, the Municipal Civil Protection Service, and Funchal firefighters, in coordination with Madeira’s housing company (IHM) and other responsible bodies. Access routes, manoeuvring space, obstacles, and the condition of fire hydrants will be examined. A controlled emergency drill may also be conducted.
Luís Filipe Santos stated that emergency crews must reach residents without obstacles that could delay assistance, stressing that lives are at stake. He also called for emergency access to be considered in future urban regeneration projects in Funchal.
