Due to safety concerns of the Wildfires in Madeira, P&O Cruises decided to skip the arrival of P&O Azura in Funchal. The Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean faces major catastrophe with the fire closing dangerously to Funchal. So far four people have died since the fire broke out however the authorities fear the numbers of the victims will rise. Currently there are 132 active fires on the island leaving thousands of tourists stranded to the island. There are reports of tourists who had to flee the hotels and spend the night awake or sleeping on the floor.
P&O Azura was scheduled to arrive in Funchal, Madeira, today August 11, instead the cruise ship will spend a day at sea before continuing its regular schedule. Two cruise ship are scheduled to arrive in Funchal, Madeira. The German cruise ship AIDACara is scheduled to arrive on 15 August, and Costa Magica is scheduled to arrive on 16 August. However it is likely they will cancel the call to Funchal.