BẮC NINH — Police are looking for suspects after thousands of trees along part of Highway 18 were burnt down.

The affected stretch of road runs from Võ Văn Kiệt in Hà Nội to the Yên Phong Industrial Zone in the northern province of Bắc Ninh.

Lao Động (Labour) newspaper reported on Sunday the trees had been burnt to their roots. Local residents said the fire and smoke affected drivers along the highway and their farm produce.

Trần Anh Tuấn, an official from the Hà Nội Department of Construction, said the department would cooperate with police and local authorities to search for the culprits.

The 317km Highway 18 passes though Hà Nội, Bắc Ninh, Hải Dương and Quảng Ninh. A high number of vehicles use the highway every day. — VNS