Chiang Mai - UPI
Officials in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand declared a drought disaster in nine districts Friday. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Director Khomsan Suwanampha said 11,000 acres of farmland do not have water, MCOT, the Thai News Agency, reported. About 126,000 people living in more than 500 villages face the destruction of the harvest. The area is also coping with a thick haze of dust in the atmosphere. Forecasters said that is expected to ease in the next few days with a forecast for scattered rainstorms through the weekend.