Flooding was expanding in the heart of Chiang Mai as the overflowing Ping River continued to the rise amid persistent rain on Monday.

About 1,000 households were inundated after the Ping River burst its banks on Sunday night. The flood continued on Monday morning. Nearby residents were being advised to move their belongings to high ground.

Although sandbags were stacked up along the banks of the Ping River, water rose up from sewers in the city centre.

The level of the Ping River at Nawarat Bridge was 4.52 metres, which was 0.82 metres above its safe level.

The situation was approaching the severe flooding of 2011, when the level of the Ping River neared 5  metres.

The water was up to a metre deep in some areas and residents were evacuated. Several schools and government offices were closed on Monday due to flooding. They were largely on Chang Khlan and Charoen Prathet roads, but also in Pa Phrao Nok and Nong Hoi areas.