Scorched Earth: El Niño phenomenon brings drought to Southeast Asia

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A sign reading “Land for sale or for lease” stands in a drought-stricken rice field in Bac Lieu province, Vietnam. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:34pm, 18 Apr 2016Updated: 11:37pm, 18 Apr 2016

A sign reading “Land for sale or for lease” stands in a drought-stricken rice field in Bac Lieu province, Vietnam. These images from Reuters, Xinhua, AP, EPA and AFP show how the El Nino weather phenomenon is bringing hotter and drier conditions to many parts of the region, including India and the Philippines.

A farmer inspects his dried-up rice field in Bulacan province, the Philippines. Photo: Xinhua

A woman along with her son walks to get water from a communal tube well at Raichi Wadi village, 120 kilometers (75 miles) north-east of Mumbai, India. Photo: AP

A man holds an umbrella as he walks on the dry reservoir bed next to Gunda Dam by Gunda village in Botad district, some 150 km from Ahmedabad in India's western Gujarat state. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia is suffering its worst drought in decades, with supplies in the Mekong River dwindling for both drinking water and irrigation. Other countries affected include Cambodia , Thailand and Laos.

Buddhist monks walk through dried earth near pagoda at Trapang Chhouk village in the outskirt of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: AP

A woman collects dried lotus leaves for her traditional medicine at Chreh village outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: AP

Thai workers repair a dried up irrigation canal at Chai Nat province, Thailand. Much of Southeast Asia is suffering its worst drought in 20 or more years. Photo: AP

Villagers walking on drought parched land near the dried up Phayao Lake in Phayao province, northern Thailand. Photo: EPA