Villages were flooded as heavy rain hit northeast Thailand, triggering at least three days of school suspensions.

Waist-deep water inundated hundreds of homes and several schools in Khon Kaen province, with parents evacuating their children on boats on August 23.

Mittraphap Kraiwan, director of the Ban Kudroo School, said classes have been suspended for three days after storms left the classrooms heavily flooded. He added that desks, computers, and other teaching equipment were drenched, but the extent of the damage has not yet been determined.

Staff are considering a weeklong suspension of school if the water has not yet receded, he added.

Meanwhile, other elderly villagers braved the deluge to take offerings to Buddhist monks.

Champi Chananoi, 67, said: 'Our home is on the south side and is a highland area so it isn't flooded. We're wading in the water like this because we're offering food to the monks at Wat Panon Muang Ruay Sinthan which is flooded.

'The monks have been unable to come out for alms for three days, so we're doing this every day until the water dries up.'

Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines are in the middle of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which lasts until October or November.

Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods.