Saline intrusion in the Southwestern region during this year’s dry season has been forecasted to arrive earlier than annual.
The information was given by Le Hong Phong, deputy head of Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration at a seminar on saline intrusion and flooding held in Ben Tre Province last Friday.
Saline intrusion in the Southwestern region mainly depends on the Mekong River.
The El Nino phenomenon has been forecasted to continue until next May, influencing the climate in the region.
The rainy season in the Southwestern localities would end before mid-November with the rainfall being lower than in previous years.
The salinity level in local rivers during this year's dry season is significantly higher than the multi-year average and higher than the same period last year.
The highest salinity levels on the Tien and Hau rivers in mid-March next year would be higher than the multi-year average. On the Vam Co River, salinity is expected to rise in mid-April.
Bui Van Tham, deputy director of Ben Tre Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the locality would be affected by saline intrusion in the next two months. This often lasts 3-6 months every year.
The Southwestern region also saw early saline intrusion during the dry season of the 2019-2020 period. As a result, 5,000 hectares of rice; 27,000 hectares of fruit trees and 2,000 hectares of aquaculture were damaged, causing a total loss of VND1.6 trillion.
Saline intrusion in Southwestern region may come early
Saline intrusion in the Southwestern region during this year’s dry season has been forecasted to arrive earlier than annual.
Source: dtinews.vn, PLO
