According to local official reports, up to 70% of 23,000 hectares grown with rice was damaged by saline intrusion.
The salty condition also harmed more than 2,000 hectares of vegetables and fruit trees.
Meanwhile, a hash drought is occurring, drying out 43,000 hectares of cajuput forests, which poses a high risk of fires.
As the drought is forecast to prolong until May, Ca Mau’s authorities urged locals to save water and restrict out-of-season shrimp breeding.
Limited forest access and a contemporary ban on the extraction of honey in the wild are issued as fire precautions. Residents and forest rangers are put on high alert, watching out for any possible fires.
