vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn  

Abetted: Fire-fighters in the U Minh Ha forest continued to fight the blaze even as their colleagues in the U Minh Thuong National Park welcomed the helping hand offered by the weather gods on Monday. All fire-fighters, military personnel, and volunteers will stay on in the area as the underground peat layer continues to smoulder. —VNA/VNS Photo Le Huy Hai

Heavy rain offers massive respite to local fire-fighters

KIEN GIANG — A torrential downpour lasting two hours has doused most of the fire raging through the U Minh Thuong National Park and revived hopes of saving the nation’s last primary cajeput forest.

Deputy director Do Van Son of the local firefighting department said that the rain on Monday had raised the water level in the dyke-protected area to 20cm, almost entirely extinguishing the fire on the surface of the forest.

It had also lowered the temperature in the area, and provided enough moisture for the last 1,000ha of primary forest and about 4,000ha of newly planted cajeput trees to prevent the still smouldering fire from spreading further.

But, fire continues to burn in the peat layer under the surface of the forest and could set it ablaze again, Son cautioned.

He said the fire-fighters would dig holes in the affected area and pump down water to try and put out the fire inside the peat layer.

Despite the improved situation, all personnel and equipment will remain on the site, Son said. — VNS