Severe drought, fish dry up and die in Nghe An

Quang An• July 14, 2020 14:48

(Baonghean.vn) - The prolonged heat has caused the water level of the Cam River, passing through Nghi Loc District (Nghe An), to drop to a record low. Aquatic products such as fish, snails, clams... have died all over the river.

Clip: Quang An

Cam River (Nghi Loc district) provides water for production to many communes such as Nghi Hung, Nghi Yen, Nghi Thuan, Nghi Tien, Nghi Quang, Nghi Thiet... However, under the record heat, the water level of Cam River has dropped to its lowest level in many years. In the photo: The bed of Cam River is dry on the morning of July 14. Photo: Quang An

Around the riverbank, dead fish floated all over the water, making everyone feel sad. Photo: Quang An

The cause of the mass fish deaths is due to prolonged drought, the water of the Cam River is getting hotter, causing the fish's living environment to change. In addition, the saltwater intrusion is getting deeper and deeper into the mainland, so the number of freshwater fish dying is increasing. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Tran Van Lanh, a resident of Nghi Thuan commune, said: I have lived by the river for decades, but I have never seen the river water level so low and fish dying everywhere. Before, to go from one side of the river to the other, I had to row a boat, but now I can wade across easily because the riverbed has dried up... Photo: Quang An

Many fish died, dried up and decomposed, leaving only their skeletons on both banks of the Cam River. Photo: Quang An

Fish carcasses dried up under the harsh drought. Photo: Quang An

Not only fish but also other aquatic products such as clams, snails, mussels... are also exposed to the harsh sunlight. Photo: Quang An

The water level in the Cam River dropped to only about 20 cm on the morning of July 14, so the surrounding pumping stations also had no water to serve production. The pumps were dry and rusty. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Tran Nguyen Hoa - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghi Loc district said that the prolonged drought has made nearly 1,000 hectares of rice fields unable to produce, 2,600 hectares of rice fields have been planted but are suffering from drought, of which 700 hectares are severely drought. The water level in the Cam River is currently very low and has been severely saltwater intrusion, so the district is planning to build the Cam River at the N5 bridge (Nghi Thuan commune) to increase the river water level and prevent saltwater intrusion. In the photo: Nghi Loc people around the Cam River area have converted their rice fields to grow shallots to combat drought. Previously, on July 13, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu announced a state of natural disaster due to heat and drought in Nghe An province. Photo: Quang An