Ground subsidence and sea level rise threaten Mekong Delta and millions of people
The Mekong River Delta is lower than previously thought. Ground subsidence and rising sea levels threaten the lives of more than 21 million people who inhabit the region as well as Vietnam’s food security since the latter grows 56 per cent of the country’s rice.
The process, many warn, is leading to an environmental emergency, causing major concerns among Vietnamese who want their government to do something quickly to counter it.
The Mekong River Delta is the third largest delta in the world, covering some 40,577 square kilometres. It reaches the South China Sea (East Sea for the Vietnamese) after crossing China, Myanmar, Laos Thailand and Cambodia.
Recent studies warn that the delta is sinking fast and might disappear this century, sooner than thought according to the latest research.
