El Nino-related drought to drag on in Vietnam till May

The Vietnam Institute of Hydro Meteorology and Environment said here on Thursday that the country 's ongoing drought, an aftermath of El Nino, is forecast to last till May of this year.

Accordingly, the drought would continue in majority of all localities of the country from March to May this year. However, it will be felt stronger in the country's northern provinces, said the institute.

The drought is creating negative impacts on the country's electricity sector as reservoirs are running out of water to feed hydropower plants, according to the state-owned Electricity of Vietnam.

El Nino, or El Nino-Southern Oscillation phenomenon, is a climate pattern. It occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean on average every five years. When El Nino occurs, there are droughts, floods and other weather disturbances.

Source:Xinhua