BANGKOK - A drought crisis has been affecting 36 provinces across Thailand, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said Tuesday.

More than 12,000 villages, or 16 percent of all villages nationwide, and 254 districts have been troubled by water shortages, according to DDPM Director-General Chatchai Promlert.

Local authorities are continuing to deliver water to those in need for household consumption and farming activities, Chatchai said.

Meanwhile, the drought situation in eastern Chonburi province and southern Satun province has improved, he added.