A family of five was killed in severe flash floods that struck northern Thailand on Sunday.

The villagers had been living at the base of a mountain where they were swept away by raging waters during a storm in Phayao province at around 2 am on October 15.

A search was launched for the missing locals, who were later found washed away into the Huai Kang Pla River. They were identified as Yao tribespeople that live on the hillside.

Authorities named the deceased as Panuwat Fungruengrit, 50, Palida Fungruengrit, 44, Saran Fungruengrit, 22, Panuphan Surametheemanop, 50, and Kanyarat Fungruengrit, 10, who was still in school.

The family's relatives have scheduled a funeral and cremation today, October 16, in accordance with religious rites.

Navin Suthammeng, council secretary of Dok Khamtai district, said that hevay rain struck unexpectedly between 1:30 AM and 3 AM. The downpour caused the flash flood that destroyed the Dok Khamtai-Chiang Muan bridge.

He said that officials had begun clearing bamboo clumps and debris stuck under the bridge that was blocking traffic, while rescue teams searched for other missing people.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.

Bangkok and large parts of the north and northeast of the country have been swamped with flash floods from tropical thunderstorms.