Drought dries up rice fields in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Saline intrusion in the Mekong Deltawill likely remain at a high level until the end of April or early May, before graduallydeclining, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorologicalForecasting.
In the worst case scenario, drought and saltwater intrusionmay last even longer if the current absence of rains continues and the use of wateron river tributaries and reservoirs keeps increasing, the centre said.
Since the beginning of April, the southern region has seenno rains amidst low humidity and high temperatures. A heat wave has been ravaging theregion, with temperatures of up to 36 – 37 degrees Celsius.
The centre forecast heavy rains and thunderstorms in theregion with the potential risk of whirlwinds, lightning and hail to come later this month.
It also predicted that the salinity will be on a rise untilApril 10 and peak during the weekend. In several places in the provinces ofLong An and Kien Giang, salinity may even intensify and pass the highest levelrecorded last month.
Saltwater intrusion will gradually decrease in the secondhalf of this month, the centre said. It advised affected localities in theregion to restrict irrigation in order to minimise losses.
For farming areas of high-value, salt-sensitive fruits, itis important to check salinity levels before irrigating crops,it added./.
VNA
