About 20 rai of the peat forest have been damaged after the fire started on Tuesday and the fire is likely to spread out due to the hot weather and strong wind, said Mr Lersak Riewtrakulpaiboon, the department head, on Wednesday.

Besides Toh Daeng, fires have also been reported in several other peat forests in Narathiwat.

The first artificial rain-making operation started at 3.30 pm on Wednesday targeting rain clouds hovering over the mountains and peat forest on the eastern side of Su-ngai Padi and Su-ngai Kolok districts with the hope that rain water will flow down the mountains into the peat forests and help douse the fires.

Mr Lersak pointed out that the Toh Daeng peat forest is the biggest and most abundant peat forest in the country and hence the urgent need to contain the forest fires.