On June 20th at around 9 AM, a forest fire erupted in Hong Lien village, Ky Van commune, previously part of Ky Anh district in Ha Tinh Province. Local authorities quickly mobilized hundreds of residents to help extinguish the flames. By 1 PM, after the fire was brought under control, officials discovered the bodies of Mr. Lien, 58, and Mrs. Hoa, 54, lying a few meters apart.

Initial investigations revealed that the couple had entered the forest earlier that day to burn underbrush in preparation for land cultivation. Unfortunately, the fire spread to a nearby area of forest owned by another resident. Despite their efforts to control the fire, the couple was unable to escape. Reports suggest that the intensity of the blaze may have caused them to lose consciousness due to a lack of oxygen, preventing their escape.

The fire has resulted in damage to approximately 5 hectares of forest. Over the past three days, Ha Tinh has experienced a heat wave, with temperatures ranging from 28 to 38 degrees Celsius, prompting high fire risk warnings in mountainous areas. This incident marks the third reported forest fire in the region since the beginning of summer, following two smaller fires earlier in the season.