China is releasing more water from a Mekong River dam from between now and Tuesday to allow cargo vessels stranded in shallow water to navigate, boat operators said.
Phakaymas Wiera, who represents the Mekong Delta Co, a tour boat operator, said Chinese authorities at Guan Lei Port, in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, told the company they will begin releasing between 800 and 1,200 cubic metres per second more water from Jinghong dam.
The increase will help relieve transport headaches along Southeast Asia's longest river, which has been hit hard by the dry season.
This year’s dry season will be one of the worst in nearly 20 years, according to the Royal Irrigation Department.
Boat operators have had to curb their operations, leaving boats stranded for days, and shipping companies have had to lighten their loads to pass shallow sections of the river.
Ms Phakaymas said the Mekong Delta Co has been mooring ships throughout the dry season, particularly at Mong Pa Liao in Myanmar, about 40km from Thailand's Chiang Saen Port in Chiang Rai province.
Several vessels operating between Guan Lei and Chiang Saen ports were docked there after water levels had receded to 2m. To safely navigate, a water level of at least 2.2m is required, according to a source from the Port Authority of Thailand.
The increased water level is meant to be a temporary reprieve to clear out the stalled ships. After Tuesday, the river will again recede, and authorities are urging cargo operators between Thailand and China to switch to land transport.
Products would be carried by truck from Chiang Rai’s Chiang Khong district via Huay Xai in Laos’ Bo Kaew province to a border pass in Bohan area of southern China.
The Mekong River flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Last week, eight provinces — Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Lop Buri, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Sawan, Sukhothai, Sakon Nakhon and Buri Ram — were declared as drought-affected areas. The area was expected to expand.
In Uttaradit, more than 700 households in Thong Saen Khan district have been suffering water shortages for weeks, leaving authorities looking for alternative supplies.
The drought has also affected wildlife. About 1,000 monkeys at Wat Phikunngam temple in Chai Nat’s Manorom district are under threat of famine.
During the dry season, the plants in the temple produce less fruit, the temple's abbot said.
He said the animals, especially the young ones, look shabby and hungry, and they scramble to grab the monks' leftovers. As the dry season continues, the abbot urged people to drop by the temple to feed the monkeys.