S. Korea to face water shortage in 50 years: report

SEOUL, June 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is forecast to suffer from a water
shortage in 50 years due to rising temperatures and more frequent droughts
stemming from a climate change, a report showed Monday.
According to the report by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs,
the country is expected to experience an annual shortage of up to 3.3 billion
tons of water in 2060. The report will be reflected in the government's long-term
water resource management plan to be mapped out in October, the ministry said.
The frequency of droughts in the country is predicted to more than triple in 50
years from now due to an increasing number of years with extremely low
precipitation, the report said.
In the worst-case scenario, frequent droughts will cause the amount of the
country's river water to plunge 57 percent in 2060 from this year as global
warming will likely quicken water evaporation, it said.
The report also said that the frequency of torrential downpours with a daily
rainfall of 100 millimeters or higher will double in the country by 2100,
increasing the possibility of massive floods.
jia@yna.co.kr
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