An icy cold snap accompanied with hoar-frost and foggy weather over thepast several days has caused the sudden hospitalization of thousands ofchildren suffering cold-related diseases and wreaked havoc on productionin the northern region.

The Central Pediatrics Hospital inHanoi reported that more than 1,300 children were admitted fortreatment for the same diseases each day on average.

The number of youngsters admitted to Bach Mai and Saint Paul hospitals increased by 20 percent during the period.

Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Cao Bang province have reported deaths of buffalos and cows due to diseases caused by severe weather.
The weather also caused a shortage of water for spring crops,especially in border and mountainous areas such as Muong Khuong, Si MaCai and Bat Xat districts in Lao Cai province.

The provincialDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development deputy director NguyenDinh Que said about 820 ha of rice crops withered and haft needed to beswitched to another crop.

This cold spell was forecast to prolongwith the lowest temperature going down to 10 degrees Celsius in thedelta region and 6-4 degree Celsius in mountainous areas.

Threemore prolonged cold spells were likely to hit the north with the lowesttemperature ranging between 0 and 2 degrees Celsius by the lunar NewYear, according to the National Hydro-meteorological Forecast Centre.

Administrativeand agricultural authorities in many mountainous localities have askedlocal residents to stop grazing livestock during cold days and beginstoring food and covering breeding facilities to keep them warm tomimimise damages they may suffer.

Hanoi ’s educational andtraining department has instructed schools to allow primary and juniorstudents to stay at home when the temperature going down below 10 and 7degrees Celsius, respectively./.