Hundreds of homes were submerged after heavy rain caused flash floods in Sukhothai province, northern Thailand, today (August 24).

Residents were forced to flee when water came gushing through their properties and filling farm land during the night.

Rescue teams descended on the area to help those stranded in their homes.

Officials said that heavy rain in the north of the country had caused the Yom River, which flows through the province, to burst its bank.

Provincial irrigation office chief Amnart Inthawongkaew said that sluice gates were being opened along the rapidly rising river to feed water into all canals.

The flood is moving downstream from Sukhothai and Phitsanulok into Phichit, boosted by regular downpours in the upper northern region since last week.

Thailand is currently going through its annual monsoon rainy season which sees regular rainstorms and flash floods. The torrential weather lasts from May until October.