Vietnamplus

El Nino is forecast to continue its strong impacts in Vietnam in the first months of 2016 and abate in early summer.

The El Nino phenomenon in 2016 will cause freshwater shortage in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern areas, the National Hydro-Meteorological Service has said.

El Nino is taking its toll on the agricultural sector, especially rice production, in Southeast Asian countries.

Impacts from the El Nino phenomenon have caused heavy damage to around 20,000 hectares of rice in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, according to the provincial agricultural agency.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Ministry of Finance have submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister to ask for rice supply to drought-stricken localities.

Impacts of the El Nino phenomenon do not shrivel Vietnam’s this year rice production which is estimated at about 45.2 million tonnes, 230,000 tonnes higher than the yearly target.

El Nino-triggered torrential rain has caused severe flooding in some parts of Indonesia within the past two weeks.

Deputy Director of the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting Le Thanh Hai spoke to Vietnam News about the influence of El Nino and climate change on Vietnam.

Global climate change and the El-Nino phenomenon have raised the risk of epidemic outbreaks if precautious measures are not properly taken, said a health official.

The southern coastal province of Ca Mau will need about 173 billion VND (7.7 million USD) for its plans on preventing drought and saltwater intrusion in the 2015-2016 dry season.

El Nino is likely to be one of the strongest on record this winter, posing a risk of outbreak of dengue fever and other diseases in Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam.

Extreme weather events are forecast to become more severe in Vietnam as a result of El Nino, which has already heavily affected countries around the globe.

The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has instructed irrigation companies and the People’s Committees of districts and towns to implement measures to cope with prolonged drought.

Ministries, sectors and localities nationwide should use communication campaigns to raise public awareness about El Nino and the importance of rationing water saving to cope with the weather pattern.

Dense haze from Indonesia spurred by forest fires has resulted in the worst pollution in southern Thailand in over a decade, said Thai authorities on October 22.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has given the green light for rice import from Vietnam and Thailand in a bid to cater for domestic consumption and stabilise prices.

The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) corporation has stepped up efforts and preparations to cope with droughts and water shortages caused by the El Nino phenomenon to ensure a stable supply of electricity

The freshwater shortage in the Mekong Delta was discussed at a conference on combating drought held recently in Ben Tre province.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has given 15 provinces and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development 185 billion VND (8.3 million USD) to support forest fire prevention and control.

The Philippines’ National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is seeking President Aquino’s approval to import up to 1.5 million tonnes of rice in the first quarter of 2016.