YEN BAI, Vietnam: A forestry official has gunned down two local leaders before shooting himself, in an unprecedented killing at the provincial government office of Vietnam’s northern Yen Bai province, state media reports said on Thursday (Aug 18).

The head of the local Forest Protection Agency, Đỗ Cường Minh, allegedly shot Yen Bai province's Communist Party Secretary Pham Duy Cuong and Chairman of the People’s Council Ngo Ngoc Tuan in their offices before shooting himself in the head.

Both victims as well as the alleged gunman have died from their injuries, according to authorities. Yen Bai’s health protection department said the victims were shot multiple times in the head, chest and abdomen.

State television VTV said Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had arrived in Yen Bai to direct investigations, calling the incident “extremely serious”. The police and military have been instructed to maintain public order and stability in Yen Bai, a mountainous province northwest of the capital Hanoi.