Prime Minister calls for urgent forest fire prevention and fighting

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the nation and the concerned authorities to strengthen urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires.

The prolonged hot weather increases high risk of forest fire. (Photo: NDO/Ngo Tuan)
The prolonged hot weather increases high risk of forest fire. (Photo: NDO/Ngo Tuan)

An urgent telegraph by the PM, signed on behalf of the government leader by Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung, states that in recent days, due to prolonged hot weather, there have been several forest fires focused in the central region.

The hot and prolonged dry weather is forecast to last until July with unusual developments, while many forests are at extremely dangerous risk of forest fire, posing great damage to forests and the environment and affecting people's lives.

The PM asked the leaders of Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces to direct and implement urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires.

He urged for providing adequate forces, facilities, supplies and funding, while maintaining 24/24 supervision during the dry season to promptly detect fires and mobilise forces to participate in controlling and extinguishing forest fires in the shortest time, preventing big fires from occurring.

The localities were also asked to prepare plans and be ready to evacuate people from dangerous areas when necessary, ensuring the safety of lives and property of the people and the State and strengthening communications to raise public awareness and responsibility in forest fire prevention and fighting.

Other ministries and agencies were also required to coordinate with provinces and cities to strengthen the management and inspection of forest fire prevention and fighting, while being ready to join in the work.

The Vietnam Electricity Group should cooperate with local authorities and related agencies to ensure the absolute safety of the national electricity system, to avoid incidents that terminate power supply for production and people's daily activities.

Press agencies are responsible for effectively implementing communications on forest fire prevention and fighting, as well as promptly delivering information on warnings and forecasts of forest fires during peak periods.