In late February, the weather in central Vietnam is still cold but the water level in major rivers is low, or even exhausted to the bed. This is the sign that the coming year will see severe droughts.

The major rivers in Quang Ngai province – Tra Khuc and Ve Vang – are now dry. The water levels in these rivers have been falling for the past five years though the amount of rainfall has not decreased.

According to the Center for Hydrometeorological Forecast, Quang Ngai will face a severe drought this year.

The water level of Ve River in February is over 4m, the lowest in the last five years. The river’s water level lowers by 10cm annually, experts said.

The water levels in Tra Bong and Tra Khuc rivers are over 50cm below the average while the amount of rainfall hasn’t dropped. Nham Xuan Sy, deputy general of Quang Ngai Province’s Hydrometeorological Forecast Center, said that this was the consequence of climate change and the destruction of watershed forest. Sy said that in this situation, local people should save and stock water from now on.

In Quang Nam province, reservoirs are also dry. The A Vuong reservoir has lost half of its water reserve. Experts said that the A Vuong hydro-power plant’s electricity output will be reduced by 100 million kWh this year.

In Da Nang city, the water level in rivers and lakes is also very low, resulting in salty water infringement in the downstream area.

Huynh Van Thang, Deputy director of Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that in the last two years, the amount of rainfalls was larger than what forecast for 2011, andthe drought already harmed 3500 hectares of summer-autumn rice.

In June 2011, the Dak Mi hydro-power plant in the upstream of Vu Gia River will begin its operation and directly affect Da Nang and part of Quang Nam province.

PV