South Korea on Thursday mobilized military vehicles and firefighting water tankers from across the nation to supply water to South Gyeongsang province as a deepening drought grips the country's southeast, according to local media reports.

Some 200 water tankers and some 400 personnel were deployed nationwide to deliver water to the province under a national firefighting mobilization order issued Tuesday, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

An additional 14 military vehicles also joined the effort to supply water to farms and households across the drought-hit area.

All 18 municipalities in South Gyeongsang officially entered drought stages Thursday.

The average water storage rate of the province's 18 municipalities currently stands at 32.8%, far below the long-term average of 70.8%.

It was the second time a nationwide firefighting mobilization order has been issued to combat a drought.

The first such order was issued in August last year for the eastern coastal city of Gangneung.