Almost 10 hectares of timber plantations were destroyed as fire broke out at around 1.00pm on Monday on the So Mountain in Hoa Son Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang.

Firefighters were called to the scene and the blaze was brought under control at 10.30pm on the same day.

However, the fire flared up again on Tuesday early morning.

More than 700 people, including forest rangers, firefighters, police officers and military men, from Hoa Vang and Lien Chieu districts were sent to the scene to put out the blaze and prevent it from spreading.

After over three hours of firefighting, the fire was completely extinguished at 8.30am on the same day.

Mr Tran Viet Phuong, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development cum Head of the Forest Protection Department, said a lengthy spell without rain, some parts of Da Nang are now tinder dry, prompting official warnings about heightened wildfire risk. The Da Nang Forest Protection Department has issued the warning about the risk of forest fires at alarming level 5, and wildfires will be possible to become more widespread and destructive from now until 30 May, as the prolonged heatwave continues to grip the city in the coming days.

By HOANG HIEP - Translated by MAI DUNG