Many forest fires, triggered by sweltering temperatures in the central part of the country, have put at risk a 500kV power transmission line between the central coastal city of Danang and the north central coastal province of Ha Tinh.

Firefighters work to extinguish a forest fire in the north central
coastal province of Ha Tinh on June 29 – Photo: TNO

Five separate wildfires occurred in the outlying districts of Nghi Xuan, Huong Son and Can Loc in Ha Tinh on June 28, damaging one hundred hectares of forests and endangering nearby residential areas.

More than one thousand people, including firefighters and local residents, were mobilized to fight the raging flames, working all day and night.

A serious fire started at around 1:00 p.m. in a protected forest area in Xuan Hong Town, Nghi Xuan District, and quickly spread to Xuan An Town, due to the scorching heat and strong winds.

Residents living in some 80 households in a nearby residential area were quickly evacuated.

This raging blaze was first brought under control at 10:30pm on June 28, but broke out again at 5 am on June 29. Firefighters and others are now working to extinguish it.

Nguyen Tien Hung, Vice Chairman of Nghi Xuan District, told the media that a local farmer is being detained on suspicion of causing the fire.

Four other wildfires in the province were also recorded in melaleuca and pine forests in Ha Tinh on June 28.

In Nghe An Province, four wildfires also occurred in Anh Son, Do Luong and Quynh Luu Districts on June 28.

Fires in a 25-hectare pine forest and a five-hectare acacia forest in the province of Thua Thien-Hue broke out on June 28, as well. They threatened a 500kV power transmission line, linking the adjacent Danang City, prompting a local electricity company to cut the flow of electricity.

The State-run Vietnam Electricity Group said in a statement on June 28 that power shortages in the northern and central parts of the country have become more severe, due to a sudden increase in demand of electrical loads and serious fires affecting power generation.