Northeastern provinces along the Mekong have been warned of possible flooding due to the rapidly rising water level of the river.
The hydrology office in Nong Khai said on Sunday that heavy rains in northern Thailand and Laos were pouring water into the Mekong River and downstream provinces were poised for flooding.
Provincial authorities said the water is threatening to overflow river banks in Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom and Ubon Ratchathani.
Flooding in Phon Na Kaeo district, Sakon Nakhon. (Video from @sakonnakhon Facebook account)
The regional office of the National Water Resources Board in Ubon Ratchathani pointed to Khong Chiam as a district at critical risk of the river bursting its banks. Residents living along the Mekong in Khong Chiam are urged to move to higher ground, it added.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department on Sunday ordered officials to prepare to help people affected by floods in the northern, northeastern and central regions through Tuesday.
The Meteorological Department forecast storms in provinces along the Mekong from Nong Khai to Ubon Ratchathani, as well as Si Sa Ket and Surin, at least until Monday.
Inland provinces in the northeastern region were also at risk of flooding.
Rain in Sakon Nakhon since Saturday caused floods in some villages in Phon Na Kaeo district on Sunday. Ban Na Tong Noi was paticularly hard hit with floodwater as high as one metre.
Red flags were put up in Muang district on Sunday warning people of the possible overflow of Nong Harn reservoir.
The city was severely damaged by floods in July last year.
A red flag is shown in Muang district of Sakon Nakhon on Sunday. (Photo from @sakonnakhon Facebook account)