Portugal’s authorities have detained 128 people so far this year for setting light to forests.
The number of arrests is a welcome 75% increase over 2016, according to the National Civil Protection Authority.
"To September 5th, the authorities handling this matter have detained 128 individuals, a far higher number than in 2016, when 73 were apprehended," said the national operational commander, Rui Esteves, at a press conference on the nation's fires between 29 August and 4 September.
According to Esteves, there were 439 forest fires in the last week, which triggered the mobilisation of 2,605 vehicles and 221 aircraft, with the Castelo Branco and Guarda districts most affected.
For the coming days, Esteves said that temperatures will vary between 28°C and 32°C, causing the fire risk classification to remain as 'high' and 'very high' in the north interior, central and Algarve regions.
See also: FT - Portugal’s fires have exposed "decades of neglect"
and
Portugal's arsonists - 'single, alcoholic, illiterate and unemployed'
