Raging flash floods swamped streets - washing away homes and cars following monsoon downpours in Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday morning.

Footage shows the waist-deep muddy deluge rising around homes in the Kamala Beach area of the popular holiday island on June 30.

A wooden home was dragged into the deluge and the debris was carried away into the sea. Cars were also picked up by the torrents.

Flights to the Phuket International Airport were diverted to neighbouring cities as well as to the capital Bangkok and across the border to Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia. Officials said the rain was so violent that pilots could not see the runway.

Natural disaster chief Sophon Thongsai said that flooding was the worst in the northern part of the island in the Thalang district.

Forecasters warned the rain would continue throughout the day before proceeding on Monday.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are at the start of their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms. The rudimentary infrastructure often struggles with the deluge, leading to widespread flash floods.