THE FORECAST FOR SALTWATER INTRUSION IN THE BEGINNING OF 2024 IS SEVERE AND EXTENDS DEEP INTO COASTAL AREAS
Subsequently, the probability of El Niño phenomenon decreases to 60-85% in the period from March to May 2024. Therefore, during the dry months of 2023-2024, the Mekong Delta region is prone to drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion.
If prolonged saltwater intrusion with high salinity occurs, some areas along the Tien River and Hau River in Vinh Long, Can Tho, Ben Tre, and Tien Giang provinces may experience localized saltwater intrusion, affecting rice fields and fruit orchards, warned Director Mai Van Khiem.
According to Mai Van Khiem, El Niño may occur with moderate to strong intensity in the early months of 2024.
The salinity levels in the rivers during the dry season of 2023-2024 are high and mostly above average for many years. Therefore, the saltwater intrusion situation in early 2024 could be very severe, with saltwater encroaching deep into coastal areas.
In extreme cases of El Niño, by the middle of the dry season (from February 2024 onwards), even if measures are taken to prevent saltwater intrusion from the sea, there may still be a shortage of fresh water inland.
During the dry months of 2023-2024, water levels in the headwaters of the Mekong River are greatly affected by tidal movements.
Saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta region may be more severe than the multi-year average. Therefore, people need to have proactive plans to cope with saltwater intrusion.
Additionally, there is little chance of off-season rainfall during the dry months. In light of these forecasts, localities in the region need to develop specific plans and solutions to deal with saltwater intrusion early and effectively to ensure sufficient water for the Winter-Spring rice crop of 2023-2024 and minimize the damage caused by drought and saltwater intrusion.
The National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) has reported to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on the impact of El Niño, providing information for relevant ministries, departments, and localities to devise response plans.
The immediate and long-term actions for ministries, departments, and localities have been requested by the Prime Minister in Official Letter No. 397/CĐ-TTg dated May 13, 2023, on actively implementing urgent measures to cope with the risks of heatwaves, droughts, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion.
In accordance with the Prime Minister's directive, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has instructed meteorological and hydrological agencies and relevant units to develop specific response plans, including increasing the frequency of specialized bulletins on El Niño phenomena, rainfall forecasts, and water sources in river basins; providing timely forecast information and water source recovery warnings for ministries, departments, and localities to develop appropriate response plans.
Functional agencies are reviewing and assessing the demand for water use for production and daily activities to make appropriate adjustments, especially for the Winter-Spring crop in the North Central, Central regions, or areas with large-scale tourism development during the dry months of 2023 - 2024.
Localities need to implement measures to store and use freshwater resources rationally and arrange seasonal cultivation properly. At the same time, units and localities need to closely monitor saltwater intrusion forecasts to implement appropriate prevention and control measures.
Reservoir owners are required to consider adjusting operation and production plans to cope with the risk of reduced rainfall during El Niño conditions.
The Southern region is recognized as having the mildest weather in the country, but it is currently facing challenges and suffering damage from various types of natural disasters.
In particular, droughts, saltwater intrusion, heatwaves, and high tides causing floods, riverbank erosion, and coastal erosion are increasing in both intensity and scope, severely affecting the lives and production of people.
Cre: vietnamplus.vn
Ngày đăng : 29/04/2024
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