The drought in the region has lasted for last 15 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical for severe to extreme events.
The lower Mekong River areas, mainly from Cambodia's Stung Trend to Neak Loung and Vietnam's Tan Chau on the Mekong River and Koh Khel and Chau Doc on the Bassac River, will experience this same situation (water levels drop below their Long Term Averages).
MRC report in mid-2019 showed water levels during last year's early flood season from June to July, were among the lowest on record. Water levels in Thailand's Chiang Rai Province dropped to 2.1 meters against the average 3.02 meters measured over the past 57 years. Water levels fell below those of previous lower records experienced in 1992.
Downstream Mekong Delta, residents in southern Vietnam suffered also serious droughts last year. With freshwater reservoirs drying up, the locals start buying water for daily use this being a situation unimaginable few years earlier.