Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Cao Duc Phat yesterday sent an urgent message to provinces and cities, asking them to take action to prevent forest fires and minimise possible damage.

The emergency request comes after an extended hot and dry spell, which has already caused forest fires in Da Nang this week.

The ministry's Forest Protection Department has identified forests in Bao Thang, Van Ban, Bao Yen (city of Lao Cai), Que Phong, Quy Chau, Anh Son, Con Cuong (Nghe An Province) as being highly vulnerable to fires.

All provinces and cities have been asked to monitor warning signs that could lead to forest fires and to report them on the department system at kiemlam.org.vn.

Meanwhile, nearly 60ha of eucalyptus trees were lost to fire in Phuc Yen Town of Vinh Phuc Province on Wednesday, even after local authorities ordered hundreds of people and fire fighters to stop the blaze.

In Dak Lac Province, more than 300,000ha of forest are at risk of fire and fire control staff have been put on high alert.

Source: VNS