Prachuap Khiri Khan province convened a meeting on January 21, 2025, to assess the current drought situation and prepare assistance measures for affected residents. The meeting, held at the provincial hall, was chaired by Deputy Governor Prateep Boriboonrat and included representatives from various government agencies, local administrations, and state enterprises.
A survey conducted between April 22 and April 30, 2024, identified 486 villages and communities in the province as being at risk of water shortages. Of these, 172 were classified as severely affected, spread across multiple districts: Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan (30 villages), Kui Buri (one village), Thap Sakae (48 villages), Bang Saphan (15 villages), Bang Saphan Noi (six villages), Pran Buri (30 villages), Hua Hin (34 villages), and Sam Roi Yot (eight villages). In 2024, the province declared a state of emergency for drought, covering 239 villages, 12 communities, and multiple administrative districts, affecting over 78,000 people and damaging approximately 14,651 hectares of agricultural land. The government allocated 15.25 million baht in emergency relief funds to assist those impacted.
The provincial irrigation department reported that the current water level in the nine main reservoirs stands at 199 million cubic meters, or 39% of total capacity. This figure is an improvement over the previous year, with cumulative rainfall in the last wet season recorded at 993 millimeters, close to the annual average of 1,091 millimeters. Water from medium-sized reservoirs, including Pran Buri and Yang Chum, is being distributed at a daily rate of 900,000 cubic meters for consumption and agricultural use.
The meeting also analyzed the potential impact on agriculture and livestock. A high-risk area identified was 690 hectares of durian plantations in Pa La-U, Hua Hin. Additionally, 39 sub-districts across eight districts face risks to livestock farming. To mitigate these effects, 16 animal feed storage centers have been set up, and the provincial livestock office is supplying animal fodder to affected farmers.
Authorities are deploying clean water trucks to distribute potable water to communities facing severe shortages, particularly in Huai Yang sub-district, Thap Sakae, which was among the hardest-hit areas last year. In 2024, Prachuap Khiri Khan’s irrigation project supported affected areas by delivering over five million liters of water and dredging more than ten water sources to improve supply.
The meeting was attended by officials from the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office, representatives from local governments, and other relevant agencies responsible for drought relief efforts.
