Phichit’s Yom River turns to mud, leaves locals high and dry
The Yom River in Phichit province has been almost completely dried up for five months now, destroying the livelihoods of locals who breed aquatic animals on the river edge or grow crops on its banks, a report said today (May 18).
The Yom is one of the most important rivers in northern Thailand, and is one of the origins of the Chao Phraya, which flows mainly in the central region.
In Phichit, the Yom usually runs through four districts – Sam Ngam, Pho Prathap Chang, Bueng Na Rang and Pho Thale – and is 124 kilometres long. Its total length is around 700km.
Global warming and the dire drought situation in Phichit have not only caused the river to dry up but also affected farmers living along its banks, forcing them to abandon their agricultural activities, the report added.
