Vietnam To Face More Serious Droughts In 2010

3/02/2010
(Bernama)

HANOI -- Vietnam may face more serious droughts in 2010, especially during the dry season from December 2009 to April, due to the impacts of the El Nino phenomenon, according to the Vietnam news agency on Wednesday.

Citing the Central Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Centre, the news agency reported that the temperatures from February to April will be higher than the average levels in previous years while rainfalls are predicted to be much lower.

In the dry season, water flows on northern rivers may be 45 to 70 percent lower than the average level for the same period.

Drought may cause earlier and more serious intrusion of sea water in coastal areas, especially in the Mekong Delta due to sharp falls in water volumes from the upper reaches.

-- BERNAMA