Drought affects Chiang Rai, Uttaradit
Northern provinces of Chiang Rai and Uttaradit have been declared disaster zones affected by drought, with locals facing water shortages and damage to crops.
Chiang Rai governor Thanin Supasaen has declared all 18 districts disaster zones. The drought is likely to be worse than last year and last for two months.
Chatetha Mosikkarat, head of the Chiang Rai disaster prevention and mitigation office said the drought situation has been aggravated by many rivers drying up.
More than 120,000 rai of rice paddy and crops have been damaged and more than 78,000 families have been affected by the lack of water, particularly in Wiang Kaen district.
Local authorities have distributed water to people in droughthit areas.
In Uttaradit, Surachai Thatchakawin, a local official with the disaster prevention and mitigation office, said that the drought extended to nine districts and the province has been declared a disaster zone.
Local residents, particularly those living outside the irrigation zones, are facing water shortages for household consumption and farming.
Although the Sirikit dam released as much as 49 million cubic metres of water per day in line with flood prevention measures, it only benefitted people in the irrigation system zone and those living along the Nan River.
About 20,000 households in 389 villages of nine districts have been affected by drought. Yothin Sumutkhiri, Uttaradit governor approved a budget of Bt18 million to help people in nine districts. Trucks carry water for distribution to droughtstricken areas every day.
