Farmers are bracing in earnest for winter after a sharp drop in temperature overnight killed livestock and threatens to destroy winter crops, with snowfalls recorded across the northern mountainous regions of Lao Cai Province.
Fog covers Sapa Town
A cold snap since December 16 has sent temperatures plunging to below 0C.
Luu Minh Hai, director of Lao Cai Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said hoar frost had appeared, which would likely damage crops and raise the threat of fires due to the dryness of plant life.
Trinh Xuan Truong, chairman of Sapa District People's Committee, said ice appeared on the Hoang Lien Mountain Range on December 17, with the temperature at 2,800 metres above sea level on Fansipan Peak dropping to minus 1C. Local reports said ice was also seen on the O Quy Ho Mountain Pass at 2,050 metres.
This is the worst cold spell since the start of winter.
The cold weather has already caused losses to farmers in the mountainous areas, with calves and old buffalo dropping dead as the temperature plunged.
The chairman of Lao Cai People's Committee has ordered local authorities to begin measures to protect crops and animals, with officials of relevant agencies surveying prevailing conditions and encouraging the repair of cattle shelters and instructing farmers to use the shelters to protect their livestock during cold weather.
District authorities have been told they will be held responsible if too many cattle die in their areas.
Repairing cattle shelters (photo:vietnamplus)
Farmers living near Sapa Town evacuated nearly 300 head of cattle to lower areas by Lao Cai Town and Bat Xat District a few days ago, when the temperature dropped to 4.4C.
Freezing weather last winter cost tens of billions of VND in lost crops and livestock, with some 62 buffalo freezing to death in Sapa alone.
