South gyeongsang: Firefighting water tankers and military vehicles from across the nation were mobilized Thursday to supply water to South Gyeongsang Province as a deepening drought grips the nation's southeast.

According to Yonhap News Agency, fire authorities deployed 200 water tankers and approximately 400 personnel nationwide to deliver water to the province under a national firefighting mobilization order issued Tuesday. Additionally, 14 vehicles from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and forestry service joined the effort to supply water to farms and households across the drought-hit area.

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, fire authorities had delivered nearly 4,770 tons of water to the province. The situation has escalated as all 18 municipalities in South Gyeongsang officially entered drought stages Thursday. Hamyang County, which had been the sole unaffected area, was placed under a drought watch.

The average water storage rate of the province's 18 municipalities currently stands at 32.8 percent, significantly below the long-term average of 70.8 percent. It marks the second time a nationwide firefighting mobilization order has been issued to combat a drought, the first occurring in August last year for the eastern coastal city of Gangneung.