A buffalo calf died from the cold in Sapa district, Lao Cai province (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – A severe cold spell that hit Vietnam during the last few days has taken its toll on the northern region with more than 3,900 livestock animals killed and a widespread area of crops damaged so far.
The highest number of dead livestock was recorded in Son La province (686), followed by Lang Son (571), Lao Cai (410) and Dien Bien (378), according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Department of Livestock Production.
Preliminary data show that more than 300 hectares of crops and 70 hectares of herbal plants were engulfed in snow while a large area of fruit trees were affected, Director General of the department Ma Quang Trung said, predicting thousands of hectares of crops, herbal plants and fruit trees will suffer from the cold weather.
Damage caused by the cold has mounted up to 10 billion VND (448,300 USD) so far and could exceed 20 billion VND (896,600 USD) in total.
To help address cold consequences, the State-owned Bank for Social Policies has asked its provincial branches to survey the damage and assist local residents to deal with their loans from the bank.-VNA
