Vietnam premier orders urgent action as wildfire risks rise amid heatwave

According to an official dispatch issued on Thursday, intense heat has gripped northern and central provinces, placing forests under level-5 wildfire alert, the country's highest warning level.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's forecasting agency warned that the emergence of El Nino is expected to bring more extreme heat, unusual storms, and widespread drought.

National temperatures are forecast to remain 0.5-1.5 degrees Celsius above average, while rainfall across many regions is likely to be 10-25 percent below long-term averages.

Several localities from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai are forecast to record temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

Meteorologists also warned that widespread heatwaves are likely to continue across northern and central Vietnam, with the possibility of exceptionally severe heat in some areas.

As such, these conditions significantly increase the risk of wildfires, threatening natural ecosystems, public health, property, livelihoods, and human lives.

To minimize potential damage, the prime minister instructed chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees to assume full responsibility for wildfire prevention and firefighting efforts.

Local authorities have been ordered to direct commune-level administrations and relevant agencies to remain vigilant, treating wildfire prevention as a continuous priority and avoiding any complacency.

The directive also requires provinces to review and update emergency response plans for different wildfire scenarios.

Authorities must prepare evacuation plans to relocate residents from high-risk areas whenever necessary, ensuring the safety of both people and property.

In addition, provincial and municipal administrations are instructed to investigate the causes of wildfires, identify those responsible, and strictly penalize organizations and individuals found to have violated regulations.

Officials whose negligence contributes to wildfires will also be held accountable.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been tasked with maintaining nationwide wildfire forecasting and warning systems, ensuring timely public dissemination of fire risk information through mass media and official communication channels.

The ministry is also expected to accelerate the application of advanced technologies in wildfire prevention and fighting.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been instructed to work with EVN and local authorities to safeguard the national power grid, ensuring uninterrupted electricity transmission and supply for production activities and daily life.

The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security are in charge of preparing personnel and equipment to support wildfire fighting operations in areas under their responsibility and to deploy additional resources whenever requested.

On Tuesday, a forest fire broke out around 11:00 am in a protective forest in Trieu Co Commune, Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam and quickly spread to neighboring Vinh Dinh Commune due to scorching heat, dry vegetation, and strong winds.

Thousands of people were mobilized over the two days to contain the blaze, which was finally brought under control by Wednesday afternoon.

El Nino is a climate phenomenon characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often resulting in prolonged dry and hot weather conditions.

Meanwhile, La Nina is generally associated with cooler ocean temperatures and increased rainfall.