A flash flood poured into Phran Kratai hospital in Kamphaeng Phet in the early hours of Thursday, prompting the evacuation of 50 patients, with more downpours forecast today in 40 provinces, including Bangkok.
The water rose rapidly to 50 centimetres deep inside the single-storey hospital as the business area of Phran Kratai Municipality was inundated, causing chaos.
Rescuers had to wade through the water carrying the hospital patients, 10 of them bedridden, out to a truck. All services and medical treatment inside the hospital were suspended. Patients were taken to three hospitals in nearby districts.
Elsewhere in the district, drivers were trapped in cars brought to a halt on a section of the heavily flooded Kamphaeng Phet-Sukhothai Road, where the strongly flowing water was up to 70cms deep.
Soldiers were called out to assist local emergency services.
The flooding in the municipality came after four consecutive days of havy rain in the lower northern province.
The Meteorology Department said more torrential rain is expected across much of the country, particularly the North, the Central Plains and the East, and issued warnings for 40 provinces.
Flooding in the North has led to Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai and Chaeson National Park in Lampang closing public access to scenic waterfalls - Mae Klang, Mae Ya and Chaeson - in the interests of visitors' safety.
Rain has been falling steadily since Wednesday, brought by a low pressure ridge and strong southwestern monsoon.