"The GNR has identified 31,500 situations that needed a more appropriate response,” Cabrita said.

“It is surveying them one by one and identifying levels of compliance above 70%, and this is the effort that we will all continue to make for a safer summer."

On 10 April, the minister had told parliament’s committee on environment, land planning, decentralisation, local power and housing that 31,582 situations “have been logged in which clearing" had not been carried out in line with standards laid down in law, adding that this information was being passed on to the municipalities in question.

Asked about whether clearing had “fallen off” in these areas, Cabrita replied that it had not, stressing that "there has never been so much investment" as now.

"Today there is a response, both in the primary and in the secondary strip [along highways and around homes] and especially a clearing effort that last year seemed a novelty and, indeed, triggered some public debate."

The minister said that he had had meetings with mayors, who are aware of the need to take action.

The deadline for clearing brush and pruning trees near isolated houses, villages and roads was 15 March. In cases of non-compliance by landowners, councils were supposed to ensure, by 31 May, that all such fuel management work was completed.