Red warning for forest fires in 37 regions of the South and Central Highlands

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment recommends that localities with warnings maintain 24/7 PCCR duty - Photo: VGP/Do Huong

This situation not only requires localities to strengthen forest fire prevention and fighting measures (PCCR) but also poses a great challenge in protecting forest resources from the risk of forest fires.

According to the announcement from the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, 37 areas with level V warning are concentrated in 8 provinces and cities in the South and Central Highlands, including: Gia Lai, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau , Kien Giang, Soc Trang and Ca Mau. In which:

Central Highlands: Gia Lai province has 2 areas in Krong Pa district and Ayun Pa town on the red warning list.

Southern region: Tay Ninh recorded the most serious situation with 8 localities, including Tan Bien, Go Dau, Tan Chau, Trang Bang, Ben Cau, Duong Minh Chau districts, Hoa Thanh town and Tay Ninh city. Dong Nai has 5 areas including Nhon Trach, Long Thanh, Trang Bom districts, Bien Hoa city and Long Khanh. Ba Ria - Vung Tau has 3 localities including Phu My town, Chau Duc and Dat Do districts. Kien Giang has up to 7 areas including An Bien, An Minh districts, Rach Gia city, U Minh Thuong, Kien Hai, Kien Luong and Hon Dat.

In the Mekong Delta region, Soc Trang recorded 3 areas: Nga Nam town, Chau Thanh and Long Phu districts, and Ca Mau has 5 districts: Tran Van Thoi, U Minh, Ngoc Hien, Nam Can and Thoi Binh.

Binh Phuoc has 4 areas with level V warning: Bu Dop, Loc Ninh, Dong Phu districts and Phuoc Long town.

In addition, updated data from the Forest Fire and Deforestation Management System shows that 40 other areas in the South and Central Highlands are at level IV warning - very dangerous level. These areas have the potential to cause fire outbreaks if not strictly controlled, especially in the current adverse weather conditions.

The Department of Forestry and Forest Protection assessed that the risk of forest fires has increased sharply due to the impact of extreme weather, high temperatures, low humidity (in many places below 10%), strong local winds and the prolonged impact of the El Nino phenomenon.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, since April, temperatures in provinces from Nghe An to Thua Thien-Hue and the Southeast region have exceeded 35 degrees Celsius, with some places in Thanh Hoa and Thua Thien-Hue even recording temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius.

Statistics from the beginning of 2025 to now, the whole country has recorded 129 forest fires, causing damage to about 150 hectares of forests of all kinds, nearly double compared to the same period in 2024. In Quang Ninh alone, after storm No. 3, the province is facing a serious risk of forest fires due to about 6 million tons of acacia, pine and eucalyptus trees falling, covering the forest surface, creating flammable materials. The province has recorded about 30 fire spots since the beginning of the year.

In the face of the above situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has requested localities to maintain 24/7 fire prevention and control, mobilize all available forces and means, and temporarily suspend high-risk activities such as burning vegetation and burning fields in hot weather conditions. The Department of Forestry and Forest Protection also requested forest rangers and forest owners to develop forest protection plans, promptly deploy fire prevention and control plans when fires occur, and ensure immediate extinguishment to avoid large fires.

Vietnam has applied a five-level forest fire warning system, based on factors such as weather, humidity, rainfall, temperature, wind, vegetation moisture and the status of flammable materials in the forest:

Level IV (very dangerous): Extremely dry weather, dense flammable materials, even a small heat source can cause a large fire. Localities need to prepare forces and firefighting equipment and strictly control the use of fire near forests.

Level V (extremely dangerous - red warning): This is the highest warning level, the possibility of forest fires is very high and if the fire breaks out, it will spread quickly and be difficult to control. Localities must maintain 24/7 duty, absolutely prohibit all fire-making activities in and around the forest, and prepare emergency fire fighting plans.

Do Huong

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/canh-bao-do-ve-chay-rung-tai-37-khu-vuc-nam-bo-va-tay-nguyen-102250428182653865.htm