The nation’s Mekong Delta region is set to suffer periods of severe droughts and saltwater intrusion in late 2021, according to a warning from meteorologists.

According to Vu Duc Long, deputy director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), the water flow in upstream Mekong rivers is in the process of decreasing, thereby causing salinity intrusion to increase in late January.

The highest levels of saline intrusion can be found in the area around the mouth of the river, with this most likely to occur in February.

Long states that the saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta is largely dependent on water sources in the upstream Mekong rivers, a high tide, and many other factors.

He therefore put forward the suggestion that local authorities strive to update information and take every possible step to mitigate potential damage.

Furthermore, the NCHMF have forecast that from February to July, the water level in the river basins will face a shortage of between 20% and 50%. Indeed, the lowest water level in the downstream area is likely to reach 0.2m to 0.3m in February or March.

The provinces of Nghe An, Ninh Thuan, and Binh Thuan, along with the Central Highlands region, are all set to face water shortages and droughts between March and April, with central provinces also anticipated to face similar issues moving forward.

According to Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy director of NCHMF, the country is predicted endure storms sooner than in previous years and will no longer face extreme weather due to climate change. As such, heat waves will hit the country in line with the current average, with the situation set to be less extreme compared to 2020.