'Snow Fell Heavily in Vietnam'... Agricultural Damage and Livestock Deaths Due to Unusual Cold Temperatures

Lower Temperatures Than Usual Cause Livestock and Agricultural Damage
Experts Say "Influence of La Ni?a and Others"

On the 1st, residents in Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, are walking on a snow-covered road. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] An unusually low temperature in the mountainous areas of northern and north-central Vietnam has caused the death of over 600 livestock.

According to Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the 13th, in Thua Thien Hue Province in the central region, the combination of cold weather and chilly rain recently led to the mass death of more than 460 livestock, including water buffaloes, dairy cows, and goats.

In northern provinces such as Lao Cai and Cao Bang, 148 water buffaloes, 79 dairy cows, and 11 goats also died.

Local residents reported that such a large number of livestock deaths due to low temperatures and cold rain is unprecedented.

Local officials explained that the usual temperature in the mountainous areas of the north and north-central regions during this period is 9 to 11 degrees Celsius, but recently it dropped to 4 to 7 degrees Celsius, increasing livestock fatalities.

Residents are also complaining that the continuous cold rain is affecting not only livestock deaths but also winter and spring farming.

Ho Bang, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thua Thien Hue Province, stated, "By this time, seeds should have been sown on 28,000 hectares across the province, but so far only 2,000 hectares have been planted."

Agricultural officials reportedly advised rural residents to repair barns and keep fires burning to keep the body temperatures of cattle and goats warm.

The Meteorological Agency expects colder-than-usual weather to continue in the northern and north-central regions until today.

The meteorological authorities announced that the minimum temperature will be 7 to 10℃, 4 to 7℃ in mountainous areas, and around 0℃ in high mountains, where ice and frost are also expected to appear.

In Iti, a mountainous village in northern Lao Cai Province, about 15 cm of snow recently accumulated.

Since snowfall is rare in Vietnam's subtropical climate, many tourists flocked to the area.

However, there were also numerous accidents involving vehicles slipping, falling, and colliding on the snowy roads.

Experts analyzed that the recent colder winter weather than usual is due to La Ni?a, a phenomenon where the sea surface temperature in the equatorial eastern Pacific Ocean is lower than average.