High risk of forest fires.
According to the An Giang Provincial Meteorological and Hydrological Station, from the beginning of March 2026, localized heatwaves have occurred in some communes and wards bordering the province. Currently, An Giang province has approximately 29,877 hectares of forest located in high-risk areas for forest fires, mainly concentrated in hilly and mountainous forest areas and melaleuca forests such as U Minh Thuong National Park, Nui Cam commune, Tri Ton district, and Tinh Bien district.
Authorities are disseminating information on forest fire prevention and regulations for tourists visiting Tra Su Melaleuca Forest in An Giang province. (PHOTO: NAM KHOI)
Phu Quoc National Park currently manages a total area of over 36,262 hectares of forest, including 29,596 hectares of special-use forest and 6,666 hectares of protection forest. According to Mr. Pham Viet Giap, Head of the Forest Management and Protection Department of Phu Quoc National Park, the 2026 dry season is predicted to be more severe and prolonged than in previous years, so the melaleuca forests in Bai Thom and Ham Ninh are at high risk of fire.
Similarly, in Ca Mau province, the prolonged dry and sunny days in early March caused the water in the melaleuca forests of the U Minh Ha area to evaporate rapidly. Reporters from SGGP newspaper observed that vines such as *Dendrobium nobile*, *Lonicera japonica*, *Momordica cochinchinensis*, and *Dioscorea opposita* are gradually dying and clinging to the melaleuca trees. Underneath the dry branches, fallen leaves form a layer of flammable material covering the forest floor. The humidity under the forest canopy is also decreasing rapidly, and the peat layer is drying up; even a small oversight could cause a forest fire at any time.
In response to this situation, forest rangers are on constant alert at fire watchtowers. “We constantly observe from the high watchtowers; as soon as a column of smoke appears, it is detected in time,” shared Truong Minh Kha, from the Kenh Dung patrol team, U Minh Ha National Park. According to the Forest Protection Department (Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau province), the province has a total forest land area of over 148,190 hectares, of which 45,800 hectares are at risk of fire. As of now, over 3,300 hectares of forest are at fire risk level III (high fire risk).
Don't be complacent or negligent.
Facing the risk of forest fires, Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Deputy Director of U Minh Thuong National Park, said that since the end of the rainy season, the unit has proactively closed sluices and dams in the core area to store water for forest fire prevention and control. At the same time, they have organized the clearing of patrol routes surrounding the core area, transportation routes, and removed floating vegetation from canals to ensure the transportation of equipment, vehicles, and personnel for firefighting when necessary. “Coordination plans between local and reinforced forces have also been developed to ensure early detection, containment, and timely extinguishing of fires,” Mr. Thang said.
Mr. Pham Viet Giap, Head of the Forest Protection Management Department of Phu Quoc National Park, said that the unit has intensified propaganda efforts to encourage people living near the forest to cooperate with the local authorities in proactively preventing and fighting forest fires. The unit has also reviewed and inspected equipment and plowed firebreaks in key forest areas with a high risk of fire. In addition, water tanks have been buried underground along the roads leading into the melaleuca forest to provide a convenient water source for extinguishing forest fires when they occur.
According to Mr. Tran Ngoc Thao, Director of U Minh Ha Forestry One-Member Limited Company, the company has established 18 pumping units and deployed personnel, vehicles, and equipment to key areas with high fire risk and has observation towers. "During the peak of the dry season, we plan to contract an additional 40 seasonal workers to reinforce the pumping units and fire monitoring stations in key areas with high fire risk," Mr. Thao shared.
This year's dry season has seen several forest fires in the Mekong Delta region. Most recently, at approximately 6:30 PM on February 22nd, a forest fire occurred in Hamlet 8, Tran The Village, Giang Thanh Commune, An Giang Province, within the area managed by the Phu My Species and Habitat Conservation Area Management Board. Prior to that, at the end of January 2026, a large fire broke out in the melaleuca forest behind the Tay Ninh Provincial Revolutionary Historical Site (Binh Thanh Commune), damaging about 1.5 hectares of forest, mainly mixed melaleuca trees and dry undergrowth. The initial cause was determined to be some people entering the forest to collect honey, starting a fire but failing to control it, allowing the fire to spread.
In Tay Ninh province, one of the key solutions implemented in forest fire prevention is conducting practical drills, especially in high-risk areas. The simulated scenarios are realistic, covering everything from fire detection and alarm raising to force mobilization, containment, firefighting, and protection of adjacent forest areas. This enhances coordination and the ability to respond quickly to incidents.
Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment in high technology.On the morning of June 26th, at the Government Headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung received Mr. Jeff Place, Supply Chain Director of Coherent Group (USA). During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment, especially in high-tech, innovation, and semiconductor industries. Mr. Ngo Cong Thuc, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang province, also stated that the Provincial People's Committee has requested departments, localities, and every citizen to raise their sense of responsibility, avoid complacency and negligence; implement forest fire prevention and control plans according to the "4 on-the-spot" principle (on-the-spot forces, on-the-spot equipment, on-the-spot logistics, and on-the-spot command); regularly monitor and warn of forest fire risks; organize 24/7 emergency response, and resolutely prevent the spread of fire and large-scale fires.
NAM KHOI - TAN THAI - QUANG VINH
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dbscl-cang-minh-phong-chong-chay-rung-post842262.html
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