BANGKOK, 21 January 2011 (NNT) – There have already been five provinces facing drought and 37 provinces declared cold-spell disaster zones, according to the latest report of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

DDPM Director-General Viboon Sanguanpong reported that droughts had hit 36 districts in five provinces including two in the North, another two the Northeast and one in the central region.

The mentioned northern provinces are Kamphaeng Phet and Phayao while the two northeastern provinces include Udon Thani and Surin. The affected central province is Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Meanwhile, 508 districts in 37 provinces have been declared cold-spell disaster zones since 5 November 2010. Authorities are now handing out assistance to villagers in the area accordingly.

NNT