A jet ski champion rescued a mother who gave birth amid the apocalyptic flood crisis in southern Thailand, where more than 100 people have died.

Supahlak Ninnopparat, 34, was assisting rescuers on Thursday when she was alerted that a woman had delivered a baby at home just five minutes earlier.

She raced to the submerged house in Songkhla province, where she found the exhausted mother cradling her newborn, unable to move from starvation and significant blood loss.

The professional athlete said she tied the mother securely to her before setting off.

But while they were navigating the fierce currents, a canvas sheet was lodged in the jet ski's intake grate, sending smoke billowing as the engine sputtered.

Supahlak said: 'The current was so strong that we almost hit the bridge. If we had crashed, the boat would have capsized, and no one would have survived.'

As the torrent pushed them off course, Supahlak said she 'prayed for divine intervention' for a miracle before the canvas slipped free and the jet ski roared back to life.

She powered through the currents and safely dropped off the villager and her child at a rescue checkpoint.

Footage shows a triumphant Supahlak arriving at the jet ski base, where medics untied the safety rope securing them together. She comforted the mother who was seen hugging her in gratitude.

Both the woman and her baby boy were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Supahlak said: ‘This case was the most emotional moment during the jet ski rescue mission. There wasn't even a moment to ask their names.

‘It was all extremely rushed. My only priority was to hand both of them over safely to the paramedics.

‘Every breath matters. I hope the little one will grow up well.'

The death toll is expected to breach 100 as catastrophic floods, described by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul as 'the worst flooding in 15 years', swept through southern Thailand.

Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiewphan, Deputy Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police, said 104 deceased victims have been sent for identification on Thursday evening.

Soldiers, volunteers, and local government units have also been mobilised to hasten relief efforts, but they were hobbled by limited phone signal in the area.

The Thai military has sent some 200 boats, 20 helicopters and its lone aircraft carrier, the Chakri Naruebet, to deliver essential supplies and carry out rescue efforts.

Songkhla's Hat Yai district was among the worst-hit areas, which saw a record 13 inches (335 mm) of rain in a single day on November 21.

Songkhla Governor Ratthasart Chidchoo on Monday declared all 16 districts disaster zones and ordered the immediate evacuation of children, the elderly and the sick.

On Sunday, high-clearance trucks arrived to evacuate more than 400 tourists from flooded hotels across the city.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said that floods hit nine southern provinces, affecting some 1,128,284 households and 3,221,958 people.

The Southern Eastern Meteorological Centre said a strong monsoon trough was causing the heavy rainfall, which was expected to ease this week.

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.