Water Levels on Vietnam River at Record Low

The water levels were measured at 0.48 meters on the Red River, Vietnam’s second biggest river, a record low over the past 100 years, which are challenging agricultural production there, state media reported Jan. 22. Head of the Central Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Center’s Forecast Department Dang Ngoc Tinh said that hydroelectricity plants hoarding water to generate power and low rainfall is blamed for the situation. The water levels are forecast to rise to 2.2m-2.3m in the next days as three reservoirs from Hoa Binh, Thac Ba and Tuyen Quang will release water to feed agricultural production activities.