HCMC – Rains and the bitter cold weather in the northern mountainous provinces since February 19 have left over 1,000 cattle dead, with Son La Province losing nearly 400 cattle.
The national steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control said yesterday evening, February 21, that over 880 buffaloes and cows and nearly 130 goats succumbed to the cold spell.
Besides Son La, Hoa Binh lost over 170 head of livestock, while Lang Son lost nearly 150 head of cattle. Lao Cai, Dien Bien and Bac Kan each recorded 30-40 dead cattle due to the extreme weather.
The cold snap also forced 15 provinces and cities in the north to allow students to switch from in-person to virtual learning, reported VnExpress.
The national steering committee asked the local authorities to regularly update local residents and parents of students on the weather conditions to take countermeasures such as limiting outdoor activities and keeping their animals warm when temperatures drop.
Over the past three days, as the cold spell has been raging through the northern region, 25 northern localities experienced low temperatures at below 10 degrees Celsius. The Mau Son Mountain in Lang Son recorded the lowest temperature at minus one degree. Further, frost has also appeared in many mountainous areas.
The national weather center forecast that the cold spell could last until February 24. Tomorrow, the northern and north-central localities are likely to see less rain, with the lowest temperatures at 8-11 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in mountainous areas may reach 3-6 degrees Celsius. Snow, rain, and ice are expected in the region.
