All areas in Chaing Rai declared drought-hit disaster zones

CHIANG RAI, February 23 (TNA) - All 18 districts in Thailand’s northern Chiang Rai province have now been declared drought-stricken disaster zones. Chettha Mosikrat, chief of Chiang Rai's disaster prevention and mitigation office, acknowledged Thursday this year's drought has been expanding and intensifying with several local rivers, including Lao, Ing, Kham, and Chan, drying up. According to the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office chief, the drought has also damaged some 120,000 square rai of local farmlands and affected some 78,000 local households, with Wiang Kaen district being a most affected area where local villagers are now short of drinking water and authorities are mobilizing water trucks to provide them with water supply. Meanwhile, Chiang Rai Governor Thanin Suphasaeng ordered the setting up of an ad-hoc centre on preventing and dealing with the drought, which is expected to persist over the next couple of months and to be more serious than last year. (TNA)