A flood that reached bumpers on cars swamped roads after heavy rain in northern Thailand.

Footage shows the overflowing water sloshing around as cars drove through it in Chiang Mai province on May 21. The concrete barriers formed a dam that kept the deluge from spilling over into the adjacent lane.

Onlooker Pridsadee Tadook said: 'It happens at the same time every year. People still used the road and went about their business as if nothing has happened.'

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.

Many of the under-developed nations struggle to cope with the heavy rain due to under-investment infrastructure.