A total of 1,448 villages in 31 districts of eight provinces have been declared drought disaster zones that are in need of urgent assistance, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department chief Chatchai Promlert announced on Sunday.
The eight provinces are Chiang Mai, Phayao, Phitsanulok and Uttaradit in the North; Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Phanom and Maha Sarakham in the Northeast; and Sa Kaeo in the East.
Major dam reservoirs throughout the country are now holding altogether 38,805 million cubic metres of water, or 55% of capacity, and only 15,302 million cubic metres of water is available for distribution.
In Nakhon Phanom’s Pla Pak district, it was reported that many farmers were selling cooked rats caught in their drought-hit rice fields. Some were earning more than 1,000 baht a day. Rat meat has been popular in northern and central provinces in recent years. The meat can be roasted, stewed or fried.