Police in southern Ca Mau Province have arrested two local men for allegedly burning 10ha of Lower U Minh forest while gathering honey.
Several areas in Vietnam at high risk of fire in dry season
Vo Hoang Ni, 26, and Pham Quoc Tinh, 41, from Nguyen Phich Commune in U Minh District, were hired on May 14 to chop down cajeput at a plantation in the forest in Khanh Binh Tay Commune in Tran Van Thoi District.
When they arrived in the forest they saw bees and decided to gather their honey.
They started a fire to chase away the bees, but the flames spread quickly.
After being arrested, Ni and Tinh allegedly said they tried to put out the fire themselves, but ran away after it got out of control.
Local police continue to investigate into the case.