Flash floods damage hundreds of homes in northern Thailand

"Flash floods triggered by heavy rains damaged more than 150 homes in northern Thailand. The torrential downpour struck Chiang Rai spawning floods that reached up to four feet deep. Footage shows the deluge surging across a field as floodwaters ravaged 80 acres of farmland.

Classes were suspended as roads were rendered impassable to many cars. Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said it was closely monitoring the situation, warning that persistent rainfall will continue to lash the region. Residents, including those living in foothill and riverside communities, have been urged to evacuate to higher ground. Soldiers from the 37th Military District have also been deployed to help with relief efforts as emergency teams brace for more severe weather. The Thai Meteorological Department said ongoing heavy rainfall across northern Thailand was fueled by a monsoon trough stretching across the country, Laos and Vietnam." The Independent