CHIANG MAI, Jan 14 – About 260,000 people in Thailand’s northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son have been affected by the current cold snap, and the provinces have declared disaster zones to be able to provide assistance to affected residents.
Siripannee Boonmalik, a senior official of the Chiang Mai disaster prevention and mitigation office said that 18 districts have been declared disaster zones and at least four more districts will be classified as disaster zones later.
About 200,000 residents have been affected by the cold spell as temperatures have fallen below 15 degrees Celsius for five days.
Omkoi district has been most affected with 50,000 people impacted by the cold snap. The province is seeking an additional emergency budget of 42 million baht from the disaster response agency to help affected people.
Sawang Momdee, head of the disaster service in Mae Hong Son said the province declared additional disaster zones in four districts – Khun Yuam, Mae La Noi, Mae Sariang and Sob Moei — after temperatures dropped below 15 degrees Celsius beginning January 6.
Earlier, three districts were already declared disaster zones. About 67,000 people lack warm clothing. Local authorities have so far distributed warm clothes and blankets to 24,000 people as the temperature continues to fall.
