(Baonghean.vn) - These days, the communes on the right bank of the Lam River in Nam Dan district, also known as the "5 Nam" region, including Nam Kim, Khanh Son, Nam Thuong, Nam Cuong, and Nam Trung, are struggling against the severe drought. Although they are known as places where "the sun is dry before it even shines, and floods occur before it even rains," the people here are still finding it difficult to adapt to this year's intense heat.
A series of photos about thirst and how to quench it in the "Southern Region 5".
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| Ms. Dang Thi Loc, from Hamlet 6, Khanh Son Commune, planted 3 sao (approximately 3,000 square meters) of Thai melons. The cost was 3 million dong, but this year she only earned less than 500,000 dong. Last year, with the same area, her family earned 10 million dong. |
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| Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan and his mother, from Hamlet 5, Khanh Son Commune, are harvesting "early-ripening" chili peppers on Trung field. This year, Mr. Tuan's family has not earned any income from chili peppers because they dry out prematurely even before ripening and lack spiciness. Mr. Tuan's family harvests them only to make chili sauce for their own consumption. |
 The vast cornfields in Khanh Son commune have been reduced to a vibrant yellow due to the drought. |
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| Mr. Nguyen Le Dong, an agricultural officer in Khanh Son commune, is pictured in Ben Phu field, where 150 hectares of corn were destroyed by fire. |
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| People from the villages who went to the fields in Ben Trung had no choice but to bring back whole corn stalks to use as fuel. |
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| Although the adults were heartbroken to have to harvest the corn early due to the drought, this was a fun place for the children to happily fly kites. |
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| Mr. Nguyen Van Sam, a pump operator at the Nam Dong Pumping Station, said: "The station is running at full capacity. Whenever there's enough water, all eight pumps, each with a capacity of 1000 m3/hour, are in operation to pump water for domestic use and for rice cultivation in the three communes of Khanh Son, Nam Kim, and Nam Trung. From June 1st to 9th, the Lam River was completely dry, and at times all eight pumps were unable to operate." |
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| A rare splash of green on the summer-autumn rice fields in the Southern Region 5. The photo shows a rice field in Khanh Son commune, near the Nam Dong pumping station, where favorable water conditions have allowed the area to maintain 340 hectares out of the planned 390 hectares of summer-autumn rice. |
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| What was once a fertile alluvial plain in South Central Vietnam has now become a grazing ground for cattle due to prolonged drought. |
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| The people of Khánh Sơn quench their thirst with the natural mineral water "gifted by nature" at Khe Kẹp. From 5 am to 11 pm, people buy water from this natural stream, which has been tested and certified for drinking water quality. Khánh Sơn commune stipulates that the contractor can sell to residents within Khánh Sơn commune, with each household allowed to buy two 10-liter cans per day, each costing 2,000 VND. For households outside the commune, each 20-liter can costs 5,000 VND. However, even if resold locally at 10,000 VND per can, it still sells out quickly. |
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| The water source at Khe Kẹp has been authorized for use by the authorities. Mr. Nguyen Trong Lich's household has been contracted to maintain security and provide natural mineral water from Khe Kẹp to the local people, for an annual fee of 120 million VND. |
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| The baby was brought to Khe Kẹp by his father to enjoy the cool, refreshing water. |
Canh Nam
