A tractor battled through flooded roads to reach stranded residents after heavy rain caused severe flooding in southern Thailand, killing at least five people.

Footage from Wednesday evening (December 2) shows the desperate scenes in the Thung Yai district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, the worst affected area.

Many elderly residents were carried out in rafts and loaded onto the tractor, which is normally used on a farm, before being taken to the hospital.

Officials said that at least five people have been killed following floods and landslides.

The region, close the border with Malaysia, has been lashed with storms and is expected to suffer more heavy rain and flash floods until December 4.

Officials said that in the neighbouring province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, at least 351 villages across 15 districts were flooded and that 16,709 households or 47,939 people had been affected.

Rescue teams in boats evacuated the stranded residents as they prepared for more rain.

Thailand's Southern Meteorological Center warned that the province was on "red alert" due to the continuous rain.

Governor Kraisorn Wisitwong said he had instructed the provincial disaster and mitigation office to monitor the situation and provide assistance to affected people.

Trains and flights into the province have also been cancelled due to the weather.