Kien Giang suffers from coastal erosion

Vietnam Plus – Total coast erosion in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has extended to 86 km, according the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. More than 34 km of very serious erosion occurred in the coastal district of An Minh, while Hon Dat and An Bien districts had been critically eroded by about 25 km and 20 km, respectively. Meanwhile, Kien Luong Read More…

Dam in Mekong River not hindering water flow: Lao officials

Xinhua Net – Lao government officials have dismissed social media reports that the Xayaboury dam in northern Laos is slowing the flow of water to downstream sections of the Mekong River. The dam is built on the run-of-river model, which does not require water to be stored, local daily Vientiane Times on Monday quoted Somphith Keovichith, Lao director general of the Department of Energy Read More…

Mekong water level rising, but still very low

Bankok Post – Water in the Mekong river in this northeastern border province is rising steadily, but the level is still very low compared to last year, local media reported. After months of being at a critical level, the water level in the Mekong river has risen, thanks to an increase in the volume of rain starting last week. The Mekong water level is currently about 4.30 metres high, Read More…

Pompeo reverts to China criticism after meeting top diplomat, hits…

The Straits Times – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reverted on Thursday (Aug 1) to criticism of China’s actions in Asia, speaking out at a regional forum against Chinese “coercion” in disputes over the South China Sea and dam-building on the Mekong River. The comments highlighted a continuing divide with Beijing at a meeting of South-east Asian nations with world powers, even Read More…

China offers to help Manage Water in Mekong River to alleviate Drought

NNT – The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, has confirmed that China has offered to help Thailand manage water in the Mekong River. China has already released more water into the upper Mekong River to alleviate drought in Thailand. During a bilateral meeting between Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and his Chinese counterpart, the management of Mekong River water was initially Read More…

US warns dams give China ‘control’ of Mekong river

ABS-CBN – China is taking control of the flow of Southeast Asia's most important river through a dam-building "spree", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Wednesday, as water levels along the Mekong reach record lows. The famous waterway starts in China and twists south through parts of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam, feeding 60 million people through its basin and Read More…

Mekong River at its lowest in 100 years, threatening food supply

National Geographic – A severe drought that has caused water levels in Southeast Asia’s Mekong River to drop to their lowest in more than 100 years could have devastating consequences for fish, as well as the tens of millions of people living and working along the river, experts warn. The crisis began when critical monsoon rains, which usually start in late May in the Mekong Read More…

Xayaburi Dam owners say they’re not responsible for dry Mekong River

The Thaiger – CK Power, operators of the new Xayaburi Dam in Laos, are denying their dam tests (running from July 15 until tomorrow) are responsible for the low water flows in the Mekong River. The tests were a lead up to full scale production of electricity from October this year, most of which will head to Thailand. Fingers are being pointed at both the Jinghong Dam in China and Read More…

Rare Mekong river dolphin dies in gillnets in Cambodia:…

Xinhua Net – A rare Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin has been found dead after being entangled in fishermen's illegal gillnets in northeast Cambodia's Kratie province, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Cambodia said in a statement. The 198-cm-long male dolphin, weighed 104 kg, aged between 15-18 years old, the statement said. "The carcass has been collected and stored in a fridge at WWF Read More…

Droughts in Cambodia Spell Doom for Farmers and Fishermen

Radio Free Asia – An extended drought in Cambodia has caused the tributaries of Tonle Sap lake to dry up, spelling ruin for farmers and fishermen in Battambang province. The large, seasonally flooded freshwater lake discharges into a river of the same name, which flows southward into the Mekong river, but this year, because of El Niño, temperatures in the region are higher than normal, Read More…