Monton Sudprasert, the department’s director-general, said that, currently, 25 provinces still short of water within totalling 153 districts, 805 sub-districts, 5 municipalities, and 7,106 villages needs water.

Of the drought-hit provinces, seven are in the North, namely Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok and Tak; eight in the Northeast, namely Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum and Si Sa Ket; nine are in the Central region and East, namely Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Kanchanaburi, Suphanburi, Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Chanthaburi and Chonburi, while one is in the South, namely Songkhla.

The department is mobilising agencies to provide immediate relief through measures such as digging wells, pumping water, building tanks and distributing water among residents.