Nakhon Phanom: A landslide caused by heavy rain seriously damaged two centuries-old teakwood houses located by a scenic river in the tourist district of Tha Uthen.
Around four out of 10 houses known as Ban Boran (ancient homes) partially collapsed after the landslide on the banks of the Songkram River.
Officials were sent to help remove debris. The incident took place after the water level in the Songkhram River rose and ate away a portion of the river bank.
Between two and three metres of the riverside area collapsed and was swept away by the strong current, officials said.
"We needed to dismantle some damaged houses for fear they will fall into the river," assistant village head Niralaphon Aphikuchaisut said Tuesday as workers desperately placed sandbags along the river to prevent more erosion.
The 200-year-old houses are well known for serving as homestays for tourists who visit the district to see "two coloured rivers" at Chaiya Buri River mount where the Songkhram River merges with the Mekong.
Nakhon Phanom, as well as other northeastern and northern provinces, will be further battered by downpours by tropical storm Son Tinh, the Meteorological Department warned Tuesday.
Son Tinh, now covering part of upper South China Sea, is heading westward and is expected to hit the northern part of Vietnam tomorrow. This will bring rainfall to Thailand until Saturday, the department said.
Most parts of Thailand have already been soaked by the southwestern monsoon which also led to unusually high waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
In a related development, Khon Kaen governor Somsak Chantrakun has told the chiefs of 26 districts to be well prepared as rain, which hit the province at the weekend, shows no sign of receding.
In the west, Kanchanaburi governor Chirakiat Phumsawat urged the public to remain calm as the province's two major dams -- the Srinagarind and Vajiralongkorn -- still have more storage capacity.