Drought cracks a rice field in Vinh Duc Hamlet, An Tinh Commune, Hoai An District, the central coast province of Binh Dinh.

Water levels in rivers in the central and Central Highlands regions are forecast to stand 35 – 70 percent below the average recorded in previous years, and even 80 percent down in some areas, he said.

Central Vietnam will likely suffer drought in the next two months, and saline intrusion in regional estuaries will occur earlier and on a larger scale, he added.

It is very likely that Thanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, the Central Highlands and the southeastern region will be in the grip of drought from March to May, while the central coast is facing drought and saltwater intrusion from June to August, which will be more severe than the last dry season.

Volumetric flow rates of rivers in the central and Central Highlands regions are predicted to be 40 – 80 percent lower than in previous years, and possibly down 80 percent in the Ca River (Nghe An).

Dams in the central region will be functioning at 10 – 47 percent below capacity, while medium and large hydropower reservoirs in the central and Central Highlands regions will fall 10 – 66 percent below capacity./. VNA

Binh Thuan struggles to deal with early drought

The farmers in Binh Thuan Province are facing dropping river water levels and imminent drought.

Severe drought expected in 2020: forecast agency

The drought in the dry season this year will be quite harsh and water shortage may occur in many places. The central region may face serious water shortage from June.