Around 3 PM, people near Thien But mountain saw flames erupting from the base of the tree, quickly spreading throughout the entire tree and creating a smoke plume 2-3 meters high. They used about 10 fire extinguishers but couldn't put out the fire.

The ancient banyan tree next to Thien But mountain caught fire on the afternoon of 23/8. Photo: Hong Bang

Dozens of firefighters from the Quang Ngai Police Department arrived with specialized vehicles to control the blaze. After over an hour, the fire was extinguished, but the banyan tree was completely burned.

According to Cam Thanh ward leaders, the fire was likely caused by people burning incense at the base of the tree; the dead part of the base easily caught fire.

The fire was extinguished after about an hour, but the ancient banyan tree was completely burned. Photo: Hong Bang

The banyan tree, over 10 meters tall with a 6-meter diameter base and weighing 120 tons, was uprooted in 9/2021 on Nguyen Van Linh street in old Quang Ngai city. The incident caused the death of a woman and damaged three houses. Authorities then mobilized a 500-ton crane to move and replant the tree at Thien But mountain, 9 km from its original location.

Pham Linh