Volunteers rescued villagers and their pets as floods surged into homes amid heavy rain in northern Thailand.

Soldiers, police, and disaster personnel evacuated residents after water from the Khlong Muang Nam Lam canal and Saphan Hua Dam spilled over into Chiang Mai province on October 7.

Among the people rescued was a 68-year-old diabetic stroke survivor who was unable to leave her home. Rescue teams entered her wooden stilt house and carried her outside on a stretcher. She was taken to the Saraphi Hospital to be treated for a foot injury.

Officers also saved a pet cat named Chao Chok perched on an electrified billboard on the waterlogged street.

Chao Chok's owner later picked him up after seeing him rescued on the news. He said: 'Chao Chok is a cat I had adopted. He probably jumped away while we were evacuating from the floods. I was relieved when I saw him on TV even though he looked drenched and scared.'

Heavy rains have been ravaging northern Thailand in recent weeks. The seasonal downpours have caused severe floods as rivers burst their banks.

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.