A significant coastal forest fire erupted on the evening of 24/5 in Tan Dinh village, Ninh Chau commune, Quang Tri province. Initial efforts by authorities to contain the blaze were quickly overwhelmed by intense heat and strong foehn winds, which caused the fire to reignite and spread rapidly across the protective forest area.

By the morning of 25/5, towering columns of white smoke, tens of meters high, billowed into the sky. The strong winds repeatedly fanned the flames, causing the smoke to become dense and black. In response, more than 300 personnel were deployed to the scene, including local forces from Ninh Chau commune, the Dong Hoi and Quang Tri provincial Coastal Protection Forest Management Board, police, military, forest rangers, Border Guard, and self-defense militia.

Smoke columns tens of meters high. Photo: Minh Anh

The challenging conditions, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees C and an abundance of dry leaves and brush on the forest floor, made the fire highly volatile and difficult to control. Firefighting teams worked to establish firebreaks and used sand to prevent further spread. Police also mobilized multiple fire trucks to spray water on the affected areas. By the evening of 25/5, the fire was largely brought under control, but forces remained on standby on the morning of 26/5 due to the persistent risk of reignition. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

This incident occurs amid a severe heatwave impacting Central Vietnam, where numerous measurement points have recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees C. These locations include Hoi Xuan and Tinh Gia in Thanh Hoa; Con Cuong and Do Luong in Nghe An; Huong Khe in Ha Tinh; and Ba Don in Quang Binh. The Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, has issued a national warning, identifying more than 1,600 forest fire risk points across the country, with approximately 700 of these at level 5, indicating an extremely dangerous threat.

Dac Thanh