Foreign visitors accounted for the vast majority of people requiring assistance from Madeira's emergency services during the first half of the year, according to figures from the Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC).
The data indicates that June recorded the highest number of rescue incidents, reflecting the increase in visitor numbers and outdoor activity at the start of the summer season. Recent incidents have involved hikers becoming lost after poor visibility set in, visitors attempting routes beyond their level of experience, and walkers venturing onto closed or restricted trails.
In one operation during June, five foreign tourists became disorientated in the mountains above Curral das Freiras after fog descended, requiring a multi-agency rescue involving firefighters and the Forestry Police. By the end of May, Civil Protection had already recorded 96 mountain-related incidents requiring an emergency response.
