Vietnam on high alert as extreme heat heightens forest fire risks: ministry

The ministry on Tuesday issued an official dispatch urging provincial and municipal authorities to strengthen forest fire prevention measures.

Local authorities were urged to strengthen inspections and monitoring in high-risk areas while updating fire prevention and response plans implemented by agencies and forest owners in accordance with regulations.

They were also instructed to ensure adequate personnel, equipment, supplies, and logistics while remaining prepared to coordinate emergency responses.

Local governments were additionally asked to strengthen oversight of fire use in and near forests, particularly for slash-and-burn farming, vegetation clearing, and other activities that could trigger forest fires.

As extreme heat persists, the ministry’s Forestry and Forest Ranger Department has warned of heightened forest fire risks in multiple provinces nationwide.

Seven central provinces stretching from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai have been placed under a level-five red alert, the highest warning level, due to an extremely dangerous forest fire risk.

The region is also experiencing severe heat combined with foehn winds, commonly known in Vietnam as Lao winds, which bring hot, dry air, and further intensify the heat.

Authorities said dry vegetation, prolonged heat, and strong winds have left forest fuel highly flammable, meaning any fire that breaks out could spread rapidly and become difficult to contain.

Gia Lai and Lam Dong Provinces in the Central Highlands, as well as southern Vietnam, are also facing level-four to level-five forest fire risks, ranging from dangerous to extremely dangerous, particularly in dry pine forests, melaleuca forests, and deciduous dipterocarp forests.

Although these areas have recently seen scattered rainfall, soil and forest floor moisture levels remain low, keeping forest fire risks elevated between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Meanwhile, northern provinces including Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, and Bac Ninh are facing level-four forest fire risks due to early-season dry conditions.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, northern and central provinces are experiencing one of the three most intense heatwaves recorded in May since 2021.

Residents on Monday faced another day of oppressive heat, with daytime temperatures reaching 38-40 degrees Celsius in many areas and exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some locations.

Meteorological data showed that 17 monitoring stations across eight provinces and cities recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

Among them, Vinh Yen Ward in northern Phu Tho Province was the hottest spot nationwide at 40.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Hanoi’s Lang Ward at 40.7 degrees Celsius, while Hoi Xuan Commune in north-central Thanh Hoa Province and Bac Ninh Province in northern Vietnam both registered 40.5 degrees Celsius.

Another 30 monitoring stations in 14 provinces and cities across northern and central Vietnam recorded temperatures above 39 degrees Celsius.

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the center’s weather forecasting department, said the current heatwave has been unusually prolonged, with daytime highs generally reaching 37-39 degrees Celsius and exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some locations.

He said intense heat has persisted from around 8:00-9:00 am until 7:00 pm, creating oppressive and stifling conditions, with the effects further exacerbated by Lao winds.

Forecasters said temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius are expected to remain through Wednesday in northern Vietnam.

Rain is forecast to bring relief to the northern region beginning Wednesday night, while the heat in central Vietnam is expected to gradually ease from Friday.