Dried Up Mekong River Halts Thai-Lao Cargo Transport

Loei, March 7, (TNA) - Cargo ships transporting goods between Loei and
Luangprabang province of Laos have stopped operating since mid-February as
this particular section of the Mekong River is drying up.

According to Mr Somchai Teeradamrongsak, deputy chief customs officer of the
Chiang Khan checkpoint, cross-border trade activities with Laos have now
ground to a virtual halt after seven months without rain. With water level
at this section of Mekong at its lowest level in years, cargo ships between
100-200 tonne capacity could not make their regular journey between Thailand
and Luangprabang, from where goods are normally distributed further inland
in Laos.

However, the peak season for heavy cargo transport has passed, as harvest
season for most farm commodities to be transported across the border fell
around November -December. Unlike the cargo business, regular passenger
services remain unaffected by the drought.

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