The opening of the sixth round was marked by panic.
Weeks after Madeira was on alert for a massive fire that had everyone worried and aid ready from the mainland, it was on that island that the most beautiful tributes were paid to the victims of the massive fires that devastated Portugal this week.
Luis Esteves and Ricardo Horta, captains of Nacional da Madeira and Sporting de Braga respectively, entered the pitch for the opening match of the sixth round of the league wearing firefighter jackets, in reference to the daily struggle since Sunday, which has already resulted in the deaths of four peacekeepers.
Referee Helder Malheiro enters the pitch wearing a firefighter's helmet and the team captains wear firefighter's vests in tribute to the victims of the fires (Homem de Gouveia/Lusa)
In an atmosphere of panic, referee Helder Malheiro led the two teams onto the pitch, before the entire stadium joined in a minute of silence in honor of the victims and all those affected by the fires.
Seven people have died and 161 have been injured in fires that have been sweeping across the north and centre of the country since Sunday, in the regions of Aveiro, Porto, Vila Real, Braga, Viseu and Coimbra, destroying dozens of homes.
The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) counted five deaths, excluding two civilians who died of sudden illness.
The area burned in mainland Portugal since Sunday exceeds 121,000 hectares, according to the European Copernicus system, which shows that more than 100,000 hectares have already burned in the north and center regions, 83% of the area burned in the entire national territory.
The government declared a state of disaster in all municipalities affected by the fires in recent days and Friday was a national day of mourning.
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