Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday declared a drought crisis in one more area, bringing the total number of affected districts to 24, as water in the province’s main reservoirs dropped below 50% of capacity.
Sombat Trisak, head of Nakhon Ratchasima’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, said drought conditions were more severe and continue to expand with a total of 24 out of 32 districts across the province being listed as affected zones.
Kaeng Sanam Nang was the latest to be declared a drought-hit area, Mr Sombat said. The other 23 districts are Muang, Ban Luam, Bua Yai, Bua Lai, Sung Noen, Non Daeng, Kham Sakae Saeng, Sida, Huai Thalaeng, Non Sung, Prathai, Dan Khun Thot, Chum Phuang, Thepharak, Chalerm Phrakiat, Sikhiu, Wang Nam Khieo, Non Thai, Kham Thale So, Chok Chai, Pra Thong Kham, Chakkarat and Pak Thong Chai.
Nakhon Ratchasima is among 36 provinces to be declared disaster zones.
Chidchanok Somprasert, director of the 8th Irrigation Office in Nakhon Ratchasima, said the amount of water stored in five major dams in the province was at 40% of their overall capacity. The Lam Takhong dam, which is the main source used to produce running water to municipal areas and five other districts, currently holds 80 million cubic metres of water, or about 25% of its capacity, the lowest among the five dams.
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general Chatchai Promlert said provincial authorities in affected areas are working closely with military units and concerned agencies to alleviate the crisis such as dispatching water trucks to distribute water to needy houses.
Mr Chatchai said the drought-hit areas covered 11,426 villages in 232 districts of the 36 provinces as of Sunday. He added the affected villages were 14% of the total number of villages nationwide.