Several parts of the Northern and Central Regions continued to reel under scorching heat, with temperatures going up to 40-42 degrees Celsius on Thursday, said the National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Centre.
Average temperatures were around 36-39 degrees, and remained so in the northern region and central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen all through Friday. Some places even saw temperatures go up to 40-42 degrees Celsius.
On Friday afternoon, Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, sent an urgent dispatch to local authorities asking them to remain vigilant for forest fires. The country has at present 22 areas that are highly vulnerable to forest fires.
The fire ravaging south of the Hai Van mountain pass in Lien Chieu District in Da Nang City has been stamped out, but it destroyed over 80 hectares of forest cover.
