Mekong River’s new colour may be a sign of trouble

Cause for concern: Fishing boats are moored in Mekong River, which has turned blue instead of its usual muddy colour, in Nakhon Phanom province, northeastern Thailand. — AP

BANGKOK: The Mekong River has recently acquired an aquamarine colour that may beguile tourists but also indicates a problem caused by upstream dams, experts in Thailand say.

The river usually has a yellowish-brown shade due to the sediment it normally carries downstream. But lately it has been running clear, taking on a blue-green hue that is a reflection of the sky.