Residents in Sơn Hòa District, Phú Yên Province, dig a well to find water. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Cường

PHÚ YÊN — Severe drought over recent months has left 10,000 households in rural areas of the central coastal province of Phú Yên facing a serious shortage of water.

The provincial People’s Committee has put forward VNĐ665 million (US$28,300) to implement plans to supply water for localities.

They also asked local governments to use a part of their reserve budget to support residents.

The most severely affected areas are Tuy An, Đồng Xuân, Sơn Hòa districts and Sông Cầu Township.

Tuy An is the locality facing the most serious shortage of water.

More than 4,000 households with 17,000 people lack water, accounting for more than one third of households without water in the province.

Over 1,100 families in Phú Tân 2 village of An Cư Commune, Tuy An District are in need of water. For months, local residents have had to buy water costing up to VNĐ60,000 per cubic metre.

Nguyễn Văn Luân, a local resident, said they have lacked water for over six months and were very happy after hearing the local government’s plan to supply water.

People hope to have a concentrated water supply in the commune in the near future, said Cao Thế Nhân, chairman of An Cư Commune People’s Committee.

The water shortage has occurred continuously in Sơn Hòa District, mainly in Sơn Định, Ea Chrang, Suối Bạc and Suối Trai communes.

The most severe droughts were from May to July. More than 6,700 wells, ponds and streams dried up, said Phạm Đình Phụng, deputy chairman of Sơn Hòa District's People’s Committee.

There are 850 households with 3,900 people lacking water.

The committees have instructed local authorities to set up plans to supply water to each residential area and help people to dredge wells and find stable water sources.

The provincial People's Committee has also asked the central Government to provide VNĐ57 billion to fight drought. — VNS