Soldiers rescued stranded villagers as flash floods damaged more than 150 homes in northern Thailand.

Footage shows troops from the 37th Military District carrying out emergency rescue and relief efforts as floodwaters swamped Chiang Rai on June 27.

A torrential downpour struck in the early hours of Friday, spawning floods that reached up to four feet deep.

The deluge surged tore through fields and ravaged 80 acres of farmland.

Classes were suspended as roads were rendered impassable to many cars.

Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said it was closely monitoring the situation, warning that persistent rainfall will continue to lash the region.

Residents, including those living in foothill and riverside communities, have been urged to evacuate to higher ground.

The Thai Meteorological Department said ongoing heavy rainfall across northern Thailand was fuelled by a monsoon trough stretching across the country, Laos and Vietnam.

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.