Dams threaten way of life in Mekong countries

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia blame China and Laos for drought conditions

Brian Eyler, who has written a book about the Mekong, says 103 dams have been built and 65 more are under construction along the river, threatening its flow during droughts. © AP

DOMINIC FAULDER, Associate editor, Nikkei Asian Review

July 30, 2019 12:01 JST

BANGKOK -- The operation of dams along the Mekong River is exacerbating conditions in a particularly dry year and choking off a lifeline for Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Meteorologists in Thailand forecast that 2019 will turn out to be the driest in at least a decade. In the Lower Mekong countries of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, many are also pointing their fingers north to China and Laos for "switching off" two dams, resulting in gravely reduced flows.