Fire trucks from fire departments across South Korea are gathered in South Gyeongsang Province after the government issued a national firefighting mobilization order to respond to the region’s worsening drought.The province’s average reservoir storage rate stands at 33.5 percent, the lowest in the country and less than half the national average of 72 percent, according to the Agricultural Drought Management System. All but one of the province’s 18 cities and counties are under an agricultural drought alert, with Miryang, Geoje and Haman classified at the highest “severe” level.About 200 fire trucks and 400 firefighters from 16 fire departments across the country have been deployed, the National Fire Agency said. They will work with local governments to supply household water to areas in urgent need, as well as to water sources and other locations affected by the drought. A rice field in Gokseong County, South Jeolla Province, shows cracks from drought on Wednesday, as severe drought hits the region. (Yonhap) The dry bed of Bangsong Reservoir in Gokseong County, South Jeolla Province, is exposed on Wednesday. (Yonhap) Fire trucks dispatched to help supply agricultural and household water to drought-stricken South Gyeongsang Province are parked at the Miryang Sports Complex in Miryang on Wednesday. (Yonhap) Fire trucks collect water from the Miryang River in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, on Wednesday, as firefighting resources from across the country are deployed to help supply agricultural and household water to drought-stricken areas in the province. (Yonhap) Firefighters spray water onto a rice field with a fire hose in Gasan-ri, Bubuk-myeon, Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)