Mekong River at lowest level in 30 years on El Niño

Thursday, 11 March 2010 20:20

BANGKOK—The Mekong River, which flows from China through five countries in Southeast Asia, is at its lowest level in 30 years near Thailand’s border with Laos, a Thai official said.

The El Niño weather pattern has reduced rainfall in the area, and water levels may fall further if there’s a drop in supply from the upper reaches of the river, Kasemsun Chinnavaso, the Department of Water Resources’ director general, said in the northeastern Thai province of Nongkhai on Wednesday.

“The lower level Mekong River affects trade among China, Laos and Thailand, and also product distribution,” Kasemsun said. “Water supply may be inadequate for consumption and for use in the agricultural
sector.”

The Mekong River Basin includes parts of China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, covering a total land area of 795,000 square kilometers, according to the Mekong River Commission’s web site. Farmers in the area produce enough rice to feed 300 million people a year, the group said.

(Bloomberg News)