Salt water from the sea is forecast to intrude deeper into rivers in Vietnam's Mekong Delta in the next 10 days, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The forecast anticipated that saltwater intrusion would be more severe at weekends until April 30 due to the impact of high tides.

The anticipated peak salinity levels in the upcoming 10 days may surpass the highest levels recorded in April last year.

Phung Tien Dung, head of the Hydrological Forecasting Department for the central, Central ighlands, and southern regions under the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said salt water may intrude into the Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay Rivers by 90-120 kilometers each.

In the Hau, Cua Tieu, Cua Dai, Ham Luong, Co Chien, and Cai Lon Rivers, salinity intrusion is expected to be 40-55 kilometers upriver.

Localities should store fresh water for daily activities and agricultural production, Dung advised.

Dung noted that saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta during the 2023-24 dry season was notably more severe compared to several previous years, although it did not reach the severity witnessed in 2015-16 and 2019-20.

The phenomenon is expected to be more serious until the first half of next month and then gradually reduce from the second half of May, Dung said.

Saline intrusion in the delta has affected irrigation projects on high-tide days, according to the Department of Water Resources under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Nearly 1,600 hectares of crops in Soc Trang and Ben Tre Provinces are on the verge of productivity reduction.

Soc Trang has lost 43 hectares of rice.

In Binh Phuoc Province, southeastern Vietnam, some 9,100 hectares of rice, fruit, coffee, black pepper, and other crops are facing a shortage of water.

Droughts have hit some 10,610 hectares of crops in the Central Highlands. 

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