This is the moment quick-thinking officers rescued a rider swept away by raging floods caused by monsoon rains in southern Thailand.

The team was powering through a waterlogged road to search for locals to evacuate after heavy rain fell in Narathiwat province close to the border with Malaysia on December 20.

While traversing the deluge, a scooter rider behind them was knocked off the road by the torrent.

Footage shows how the officers sprang into action upon seeing the rider in danger.

They jumped off their truck and paddled to reach him as he was stuck in a thicket next to the road. The motorist was then handed a life vest and assisted to safety.

The rescue came as Thailand's Meteorological Department warned of 'four metre high waves' battering regions along the eastern-facing coastline.

Officials said the storms and heavy rain would continue until December 20 in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat along the border with Malaysia.

In nieghbouring Malaysia, floods from the monsoon rains battering the region killed at least five people and forced more than 70,000 residents to be moved to temporary shelters across five states.