Drougth worsens in Thai Northeast

BANGKOK, May 1 (TNA) - Drought in Thailand's northeastern Maha Sarakham province has worsened with one more district having been declared a disaster zone, raising the total number of the province's drought-hit districts to seven, affecting almost 300,000 people, as water levels at local reservoirs have dropped below normal levels. Chiang Yuen District was declared on Tuesday Maha Sarakham's latest drought-hit zone with 22,874 people or 6,527 households having been affected; while Maha Sarakham Deputy Governor Weerapan Supanchaimat held a meeting of chiefs of local government agencies to discuss plans to assist the local drought victims. Weerapan told reporters after the meeting that more than 200,000 litres of water have been delivered to the victims while local people have been advised to start conserving water, and that he has also told concerned officials to urge local farmers to suspend their second crops as water levels at all 17 local reservoirs, with combined capacity of 81.41 million cubic meters, have dropped below 45 per cent on average. According to the Maha Sarakham Deputy Governor, the water levels at Huay Kakang, Huay Pradoo, Nongkratoom, and Huay Chiangkham reservoirs have even dropped below 30 per cent, leaving many people short of water. So far, seven districts, 62 sub-districts, and 892 villages in Maha Sarakham have been declared drought-hit disaster zones, affecting 288,078 people or 77,493 households. Meanwhile, more than 200 houses have been damaged, many unroofed, after a thunderstorm hit five districts of Thailand's northern Uttaradit province last night. In Tha Pla District alone, the thunderstorm unroofed some 60 houses and damaged three chicken farms which house some 27,000 chickens. Officials have been sent out to assess the damages and assist the storm victims. (TNA)