Exactly 25 years ago, in the early hours of 31 October, a catastrophe struck the fishing village of Ribeira Quente, in the municipality of Povoação, São Miguel Island. A date that will mark forever all the residents of Ribeira Quente, a place where, on this day in 1997, heavy rain caused landslides and 29 people were buried, including a three-week-old child.
A terrible and frightening event that destroyed this parish, where the heavy rains flooded houses, and the avalanches of earth completely destroyed and submerged others, as well as the only access road to Ribeira Quente that was blocked making it difficult for outside help to get in. The only way to reach the disaster-stricken parish was only by sea or air, by helicopter. Ribeira Quente was isolated for almost 12 hours, the only access road was inaccessible, electricity, water and telecommunications were cut off.
With the news of this catastrophe, several help and support emerged that contributed for the rebuilding of the parish, namely several donations from the continent and abroad and from the Azorean emigrant community, as well as support from entities such as Cáritas. After 25 years, the fright and the startle still prevails in the inhabitants of Ribeira Quente, when more intense rains are felt, awakening the fear that something similar to the 31st of October 1997 will not happen again…
Last modified: 31 de October, 2022
