Drought in Phu Yen destroys several hectares of forest

Phu Yen preventive forest ravaged by droughts

Fire fighters are working to distinguish a forest fire in central Phu Yen Province last month. VNA/VNS Photo

A forest fire destroyed nearly 200ha of forest over the weekend in central Phu Yen Province’s Phu Hoa District, Bảo vệ Pháp luật (Law Protection) online newspaper reported. 

The fire raged for around 33 hours after it broke out at around 10.30am on Sunday at Ky Le mountain area in Hoa Dinh Tay Commune.

Hundreds of troops, forest rangers, firefighters and local residents joined efforts to stamp out the fire.

However, dry weather and strong wind made the fire spread quickly while the rough and sloped terrain made it difficult for firefighters to extinguish the fire, according to chairman of the district’s People’s Committee Le Ngoc Tinh.

The fire was basically under control at about 8pm yesterday.

Forest rangers will check the forest today to define the exact amount of forest that was destroyed by the fire, according to Tinh. All the forest area under fire was planted by local residents and the trees are about 3-5 years old.

The incident is under investigation.

Phu Yen asks for support to fight severe drought

Severe drought over recent months has left 10,000 households in rural areas of the central coastal province of Phu Yen facing a serious shortage of water.

Residents in Son Hoa District, Phu Yen Province, dig a well to find water. — VNA/VNS Photo Pham Cuong

The provincial People’s Committee has put forward VND665 million (US$28,300) to implement plans to supply water for localities.

They also asked local governments to use a part of their reserve budget to support residents.

The most severely affected areas are Tuy An, Dong Xuan, Son Hoa districts and Song Cau Township.

Tuy An is the locality facing the most serious shortage of water.

More than 4,000 households with 17,000 people lack water, accounting for more than one third of households without water in the province.

Over 1,100 families in Phu Tan 2 village of An Cu Commune, Tuy An District are in need of water. For months, local residents have had to buy water costing up to VND60,000 per cubic metre.

Nguyen Van Luan, a local resident, said they have lacked water for over six months and were very happy after hearing the local government’s plan to supply water.

People hope to have a concentrated water supply in the commune in the near future, said Cao The Nhan, chairman of An Cu Commune People’s Committee.

The water shortage has occurred continuously in Son Hoa District, mainly in Son Dinh, Ea Chrang, Suoi Bac and Suoi Trai communes.

The most severe droughts were from May to July. More than 6,700 wells, ponds and streams dried up, said Pham Dinh Phung, deputy chairman of Son Hoa District's People’s Committee.
There are 850 households with 3,900 people lacking water.

The committees have instructed local authorities to set up plans to supply water to each residential area and help people to dredge wells and find stable water sources.

The provincial People's Committee has also asked the central Government to provide VND57 billion to fight drought.

VNS