Drought eases in 27 Thai provinces

A drought crisis has been alleviated in 27 out of the 40 affected provinces in Thailand, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said Sunday.

DDPM Director-General Chatchai Promlert attributed the improved situation to relief measures taken by the authorities, such as delivering water to drought-hit areas for household consumption and farming activities, rainmaking operations and digging wells.

Meanwhile, 13 provinces remain severely affected by drought, including Nakhon Sawan, Tak, Nan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Surin, Saraburi, Lop Buri and Sa Kaeo, according to Chatchai.

The crisis still persists in 5,035 villages, or around 6.72 percent of all villages across the kingdom, but is expected to abate due to forecast rainfalls, he said. Endi