A resident survived a killer flash flood by clinging to a tree before being rescued.

The local was stranded in his home when water levels rose. He swam into the hardwood which prevented him from being swept away by the raging muddy torrents in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Footage shows the flood survivor flashing a torch to call the attention of a passing rescue boat on October 6.

He was perched on one of the branches that kept him safe during the deluge, as the Ping River swelled to 17.4ft (5.3 metres) during the night.

The rescue team veered towards the tree and helped him onboard before taking him to an evacuation centre.

Typhoon Gaemi brought heavy rains in the region, including Thailand, during the last week of July, triggering floods and landslides. Weeks later, Typhoon Yagi, Asia's most powerful storm this year, ravaged Southeast Asian countries, leaving a trail of destruction and killing more than 500 in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines, China, and Myanmar.

Weeks of torrential rains caused rivers to swell to record levels highest in 50 years, including the Ping River in Chiang Mai, a popular tourist destination.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are also 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.