“Comparing the figures for 2016, with records from the last 10 years, there were 22% fewer occurrences compared with the 2006-2015 average and three times the average area for the period has been destroyed,” the ICNF report said.

According to the 14-page report, 2016 has the fourth lowest number of occurrences since 2006 and “the highest figure by area burned”.

By district, Aveiro, in the north of Portugal, was the area most affected by fires in 2016, with a total 41,569 hectares burned to date.

“The area burned between 1 and 15 August totalled 95,357 hectares of forest, almost 93% of the total area burned in mainland Portugal up to that date,” the report said.