JavaScript is off. Please enable to view full site.

Vietnamese prime minister warns of wildfires amid intense heat

Vietnamese prime minister warns of wildfires amid intense heat

Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 21:34 GMT+7
Vietnamese prime minister warns of wildfires amid intense heat
A fire erupts at a forest in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a telegram asking relevant ministries and agencies to adopt drastic measures to prevent and battle wildfires due to heatwaves.

The prime minister also ordered the enhanced safety of the national power grid.

To minimize damage caused by wildfires, the prime minister urged local authorities to beef up supervision of fire prevention and fighting operations and consider the task as a key duty.

The provinces and cities should not be negligent in the fight against wildfires and must patrol fire-prone areas round the clock, according to the telegram. 

Moreover, authorities were told to proactively evacuate residents from dangerous areas if necessary to ensure the safety of people.

It is vital to tighten control over vegetation treatment by fire in and near forests, and rice-field and dump burning activities, said the prime minister.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is in charge of monitoring fire prevention and fighting nationwide.

The prime minister assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises to ask the Vietnam Electricity Group to team up with local authorities and relevant agencies to ensure the safety of the national energy power and an adequate supply of power for production and daily activities.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for updating forecasts about the weather and heatwaves to relevant departments and residents to make it easier to fight against fires.

Heatwaves are scorching many parts of Vietnam, with the highest temperatures ranging from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius.

Several localities such as Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Lam Dong have reported wildfires triggered by extreme heat.

The El Niño phenomenon is forecast to exacerbate extreme weather, increasing the number of hot days, according to the national weather center.

El Niño refers to a weather phenomenon caused by the warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Tieu Bac - Chi Tue - Hoang Minh / Tuoi Tre News

More

Read more

;

VIDEOS

‘Taste of Australia’ gala dinner held in Ho Chi Minh City after 2-year hiatus

Taste of Australia Gala Reception has returned to the Park Hyatt Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Vietnamese woman gives unconditional love to hundreds of adopted children

Despite her own immense hardship, she has taken in and cared for hundreds of orphans over the past three decades.

Latest news