Tourists soak their feet in a hot spring in Chiang Mai’s San Kamphaeng district to keep warm yesterday, after temperatures plunged all over the country, especially in the North.

At Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, straw and sacks are being used to keep the animals warm. Some 90 per cent of the Zoo's 1,400 animals are hot-zone wildlife that could fall ill from the cold, so officials felt something more was needed to keep them warm.

Straw was provided for tigers and wild cats, hammocks made of sacks plus blankets were given to chimps, and around-the-clock spotlights turned on for the poisonous snakes.

A few hours of sunbathing for the 10 orang-utans and non-poisonous snakes and pythons kept the chill at bay during the daytime, while plastic sheets covered most cages to shield animals from the wind and lower temperatures overnight.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said yesterday a strong cold air mass from China still covered upper Thailand so the mercury was expected to continue dropping, especially in the North and Northeast, where temperatures could slump to 2-4 Celsius.

The Central and Eastern regions would have a minimum temperature of 12-18 Celsius.

Weather bureau head Supareuk Tansrirattanawong said things should warm up after Sunday - for about a week.

It was already too cold for Chom Noithanom, 71, from Angthong's Wiset Chaichan district. Her body was found yesterday morning in a windowless teacher's room at Wat Klong Plu School, where she has slept for four years. Police suspect that Chom, who was old and lightly clothed, died from the previous night's unusual cold.

Further north, the Chiang Mai Elderly Home had its 136 residents exercise to keep warm and asked the public to donate blankets and sweaters. And in Nan, the number of people needing warm clothes was put at 150,815 - with Wiang Sa, Na Noi, Tha Wang Pha districts all reporting very cold nights.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont admitted yesterday that approval for funds to assist victims of the cold was slow as the annual budget had not been approved yet. He urged the public and private companies to chip in during this time.

Surayud said the Legislative Assembly should approve the annual budget by year's end and help should come early next year. He apologised for the delay.

At Loei Prison in the Northeast officials gave 600 blankets to its 467 inmates, which includes 60 elderly prisoners, some of whom were taken to special cells at night equipped hot water kettles. Doctors were on hand to care for ill inmates, official Chutikan Thavornbundit said.

In Nong Khai, region 3 educational zone office yesterday allowed students to wear long pants to class, for teachers to hold classes outdoors in sunlight, and for schools to provide sweaters and warm clothes to needy students.