Six people are dead and one missing after heavy rain caused floods in 17 provinces, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said yesterday.
Director-general Chatchai Promlert said many parts of the country have been deluged over the past week due to low pressure zones and southwesterly monsoons.
Floods hit 302 villages in 71 tambons of 37 districts, affecting 8,051 households. The situation has eased in Mae Hong Son, Lam Pang, Kamphaeng Phet, Kalasin, Buri Ram, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phetchabun, Loei, Phayao, Nan, Sukhothai and Phitsanulok. But Chiang Rai, Phichit and Chiang Mai are still in crisis.
In Chiang Rai, flash floods hit 217 villages in 35 tambons of 11 districts, affecting 5,884 households and 11,200 people.
Wiang Chiang Rung and Phaya Mengrai districts were worst affected.
The waters damaged 17,479 rai of farmland, 161 fish ponds, 51 roads, 26 bridges, two schools and two weirs.
The body of 43-year-old Thawatchai Deepan was found yesterday. He was the principal of Baan Mai Suksan School in Phaya Mengrai district and had been missing since Friday.
The man was found in tambon Tadkuan after lengthy searches by a team of police, soldiers and rescuers. Officials said he is believed to have been swept away by flash floods on his way to school.
In Phichit, the Khlong Wang Daeng canal overflowed, inundating Thap Khlo municipality.
More than 100 families in Thap Khlo district were affected by water levels up to 80cm deep.
In Chiang Mai, flash floods hit communities in Sri Ping Muang, Fa Mai and Pratu Kom. Siriyawong and Sri Ping Muang roads were also submerged under half a metre of water.
Village chiefs in Chaiyaphum are meanwhile warning locals to brace for possible flash floods, after continued heavy rain swamped farmland in the area, causing damage to more than 1,000 rai of cassava crops in Nong Bua Rawe district.
The leader of tambon Kok Sa-ard Mahan Chadchana has urged villagers living on the banks of the Chi River to be particularly alert to any deterioration of the weather situation.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, local irrigation officials said water levels in the province's five main reservoirs have increased to an average of 43% of overall capacity.
In Sakon Nakhon, water levels in the Nam Un dam have reached 520,000 cubic metres, or 85% of capacity.
Local irrigation authorities said the current level is lower than recorded in previous years during the same period.