Portugal was terrorised by fires for most of the summer 2016, and, according to figures from the European System for Information on Forest Fires (EFFIS), quoted by TSF, not since 2005 has as much land been destroyed by flames.
Early figures based on satellite imagery point towards some 160,000 hectares having been lost in the fires, which were at their worst between 5 and 19 August when more than 100,000 hectares perished.
Around 60 percent of the land burned was in northern Portugal, followed by the centre, the Algarve and Madeira.
As the figures are based on satellite images smaller fires may not have been registered and exact numbers have yet to be confirmed by Portuguese authorities.
In related news, the Government has extended the critical fire period, which should have ended this coming Friday (30 September), until 15 October due to the exceptional meteorological conditions forecast for the foreseeable future. Unseasonably dry and hot weather is expected for the coming weeks and means full fire-fighting resources are to remain on alert.
Among restrictions to remain in place for another couple of weeks is a ban on smoking in, or making fires on forest or farm land.
Setting off fireworks, using farming machinery without extinguishers, or burning land for clearance are also still banned until the middle of next month.