Central Vietnam Predicted to Face Severe Droughts in 2016: Agency

Vietnam’s central region and Central Highlands will see even more severe droughts and water shortage this year compared to 2015, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned. Water volume in rivers in the central region and the Central Highlands is forecast to be 50%- 80% lower than the average in the dry season from now to May, and record low water levels may be seen in many rivers, the center said. Meanwhile, water shortages are likely to occur in some northern localities, particularly in mountainous and midland areas. The center said the El Nino phenomenon, which started in 2014, has continued through 2015 into 2016 and will abate in early summer. Under its impact, fewer storms and tropical depressions will occur in the East Sea and the average rainfall will be 25%–50% less than in the previous years, especially in the central region, during the first half of 2016. Temperatures in northern localities during the period will be 0.5 – 1 degree Celsius warmer than the traditional average while those recorded in the south will be 1 – 1.5 degree Celsius higher, the center said. Heat wave is expected to come earlier than usual in the northwest, central and southern regions. The Central Highlands is the biggest coffee growing areas in Vietnam, producing over 1.5 million tons of the grain every year. Droughts and water shortage will affect the region’s coffee development. (Vietnam News Feb 16)