Roi Et hit by severe drought


Roi Et _ Provincial authorities have declared areas in 15 districts of Roi Et drought disaster zones after two months without rain.

Damri Wachirodom, chief of Roi Et disaster prevention and mitigation office, said the drought disaster zones cover 762 villages in 140 tambons of 15 districts.

Roi Et has a total of 20 districts. Drought has affected more than 200,000 people in 50,000 households, damaging crops on more than 500,000 rai of farmland.

The hardest-hit district is Kaset Wisai, where almost 300,000 rai of farmland has been devastated.

Mr Damri's office estimated the damage at more than 4.6 million baht.

Around 250,000 litres of water and 286 water pumps have been distributed to the disaster zones as part of an initial aid package.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has warned residents living in hillside villages across the country to prepare for possible rainstorms and flash floods. Residents in the coastal provinces of Chanthaburi, Trat, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan have been urged to be extra-careful.

The department said heavy downpours are anticipated in several provinces due to a monsoon moving over the Andaman sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

Bangkok Post