Rivers in northern Thailand are starting to run dry as a lack of rain causes a drought, threatening the livelihood of locals.

Drone footage taken over Nakhon Ratchasima's Mun River on February 18 shows parts of the riverbed visible due to the low level of water.

Locals said the section of the stream is used as a reserve for the irrigation for their crops. It had overflown and flooded nearby homes in late 2021, but was dried out within a few months.

They added that the dry spell has rendered it impassable to rafts and boats, which were seen docked on the banks. Residents have expressed concern that the drought will worsen even before the peak of the dry season.

Thailand usually has its cool, dry season from December to February, after which temperatures tend to rise to the mid-30s from March to June.