Heavy rain flooded homes within two hours during an intense tropical downpour in Thailand

Footage shows officers wading through the 3ft-high deluge as they checked drains for blockages and surveyed affected residents in Khon Kaen province on August 10.

The area along Mittraphap road was submerged in flood in a matter of two hours after heavy rains started at 9 pm.

Roads were closed while residents were asked to stay inside their homes until the weather improved.

Local Sompong Sriwong said: ‘The area around Pimansilp Village is low. When it rains heavily, the water stays trapped in one place. It takes a long time for the water to drain.

‘A pump will be used tomorrow morning and villagers should be evacuated on the same day. The main cause of floods in the city of Khon Kaen is that the water takes time to drain out to the main canal.'

Some environmental researchers believe climate change caused a shift in Asia's monsoon patterns, resulting in extreme rainfall events.

In South Korea, the streets of Seoul turned to rivers after the highest hourly rainfall rain was recorded, killing at least nine people and damaging thousands of homes in its worst flooding in 80 years.