Hundreds of homes were flooded after heavy rain caused a river to burst its banks in northeast Thailand.

Four villages were submerged in muddy water after the deluge in the Dan Khun Thot district of Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Officials said that continuous rain since September 3 had caused the Lam Chiang Krai Reservoir to exceed its capacity and overflow.

More than 200 homes in low-lying areas were affected. Rescue teams were today helping those affected and working to open floodgates to begin draining away the water.

Officials said that the floods were between 50cm and 80cm deep. Hundreds of residents had been evacuated to shelters on higher ground.

Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia 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 which cause rivers to flow faster and become dangerous.