Low water at Chiang Khong

Here is the Mekong at Chiang Khong this week. Water levels have fallen by a meter since the evening of 31 December. The unusually low water levels affect vegetable farmers, river transport operators and fishers. 

Five days after the drop was observed, China notified Thailand and the Mekong River Commission on 5 January that water discharge from upstream Jinghong dam will be almost half of normal discharge, citing maintenance needs for its electricity transmission lines. The notification anticipates that discharge through Jinghong will gradually return to normal by 24 January 2021.

Reuters has the story and you can check real-time water levels @mekongdammonitor on Facebook.

Thanks to Ratana Kumphorn for these photos.