Portugal counts on drones to bolster defences against wildfires during pandemic

FILE PHOTO: Flames of an approaching forest fire are seen near the small village of Gondomil, near Valenca, Portugal March 27, 2019. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante/File Photo

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal will use long-range drones and other surveillance means to reinforce the monitoring of summer wildfires, officials said on Monday, responding to concerns over the country's readiness to tackle forest blazes during the coronavirus pandemic.

European Union data shows Portugal is one of the bloc's worst-hit countries by fires every year. One of the root causes of its frequent wildfires is that parts of the country's interior are deserted as people have left to live in cities or abroad, and the job of clearing trees and bushes is ignored, creating a fire risk.