Vietnam is experiencing serious drought, worsened by saltwater intrusion, with water levels in reservoirs at many hydropower plants much lower than previous years.
Drought is hitting the central and southern regions much harder this year than in the past while salinization proves to make everything more severe for the southern part of the country. According to hydrometeorology stations in the southern region, the salinity of the local rivers has suddenly increased in the year to date, exceeding the average rate recorded in 2013.
On Saturday, the Center for Hydrometeorology Forecast of the southernmost province of Ca Mau said the salinity of the provincial waters has increased by 1-3‰ compared to the same period last year, which is forecast to continue rising in late April and early May.
Specifically, salinity rates in Ca Mau City, the provincial capital, and Song Doc Town were measured at 25-27‰ and 29-31‰, respectively. In addition, saltwater intrusion has made its way up to 75km inland in some places in the province.
People in many Mekong Delta provinces are also suffering from a shortage of freshwater for daily use and production. Particularly in Quang Nam Province and Danang City, the water shortage issue has become a permanent concern in recent years, for saltwater intrusion has turned more serious when the reservoirs of many hydropower plants stop discharging water to the downstream areas to accumulate water for power generation. This year Quang Nam has about 1,500 ha of agricultural land facing water shortage risks, while in Danang, the situation threatens not only the agricultural sector but also the lives of 1.3 million residents in the city. (Tuoitrenews.vn March 31)