The Forest Protection Department on May 4 issued high forest fire risk warnings for 12 localities which have dried out due to lingering heat waves and drought.

Son La, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Long An, and Ca Mau provinces were deemed most susceptible to forest fires.

Meanwhile, the second highest level of forest fire risk was issued for the capital city of Hanoi and Phu Tho and Gia Lai provinces.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting recorded heat ranging 35 – 38 degrees Celsius in the northwest and central regions on May 4. Notably, a high of 38.3 degrees was reported in Yen Chau district (northwest Son La), 38.9 degrees in Tuong Duong district (central Nghe An province), and 38.5 degrees in Son Hoa district (central Phu Yen province).

Ho Chi Minh City residents are also sweltering in the midst of an intense heat wave with temperatures reaching as high as 40 degrees.

The Vietnam Red Cross has decided to provide emergency relief to poor households in four drought-hit provinces of Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak and Phu Yen. The aid package, worth more than 1.1 billion VND, includes 900 water tanks and 2,700 packs of water purification tablets.

Prolonged drought in central Binh Thuan province has dried out irrigation reservoirs such as Ta Mon, Song Phan and Tra Tan and lakes like Da Bac, Ca Giay and Song Khan which are the main water supply systems for local agricultural activities and daily use.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates the current water levels at irrigation facilities to be 23 million cubic metres, only 14.11 percent of the total designed capacity.

Central region intensifies forest fire precautions

Fourteen provinces and a city located in the central region, the most vulnerable area to this year’s El Nino - the warm phase of a seasonal cycle of fluctuating temperatures and rainfall – have launched intensive programmes on forest fire prevention.

The susceptible localities include Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang city.

Local authorities are to boost management of cultivation activities to curb land clearing, prevent arson and strengthen coordination among relevant agencies.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting recorded temperatures ranging from 35 – 38 degrees Celsius in the northwest and central regions on May 4. Notably, a high of 38.3 degrees was reported in Yen Chau district (northwest Son La province), 38.9 degrees in Tuong Duong district (Nghe An), and 38.5 degrees in Son Hoa district (Phu Yen).

Prolonged drought in central Binh Thuan province has dried out irrigation reservoirs such as Ta Mon, Song Phan and Tra Tan and lakes like Da Bac, Ca Giay and Song Khan which are the main water supply systems for local agricultural activities and daily use.

All forest-fire warnings can be found at kiemlam.org.vn and fire emergencies must be reported through the hotline 0986668333.

VNA