Portuguese island wildfires destroy houses, force evacuations

One of two major wildfires that have wreaked havoc in the south of the Portuguese Atlantic island of Madeira was subsiding Thursday, officials said, but the other remained active, dpa reported. About 100 people were evacuated from their homes, while some tourists were moved to hotels elsewhere. Several people were treated for minor problems such as smoke inhalation and sore eyes. The fires have destroyed several uninhabited buildings as well as machinery in an industrial area in Palheiro Ferreiro, in the district of the island capital Funchal. The fire in Palheiro Ferreiro was subsiding, but another one in Ribeira Brava remained active, with firefighters calling for reinforcements. Meanwhile, on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife, some people returned home after fires forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 residents. But the fires have remained active, so far destroying an estimated 4,000 hectares of vegetation on the island. Another fire on the Canary Island of La Palma was brought under control on Wednesday.