In Phitsanulok, about 1,000 Naresuan University students continue to travel to classes in rubber boats, as the one-kilometre stretch of the university’s back street remains under 50 centimetres of water.

Since Wednesday night the area has been saturated with heavy rain causing mudslides to block the Surat Thani-Phang Nga Takua Pa route from the 112 to the 116 kilometre markers. Despite the use of heavy machinery to clear the debris, the road was still impassable late last night.

Motorists were advised to use the Surat Thani-Thap Pud-Phang Nga route instead.

With continuing heavy downpours in the upper south and Surat Thani's Khao Sok National Park, 15,000-people in the Phanom district were also at risk of landslides. Officials were on a 24-hour watch to prepare for evacuation.

Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department will spend Bt830 million on the Klong Hau Chang reservoir with a 30 million cubic metre capacity in Phatthalung's Tamot district.

The reservoir will be completed in 2009 and will serve as a long-term flood prevention system during the rainy season and provide water for 38,000 rai of farmland during the dry season.

In the central province of Phitsanulok, the week-long flood situation had also caused stagnant floodwaters in Bang Rakham district, leading to an outbreak of some 100 cases of conjunctivitis along with hand, foot and mouth diseases - while others also showed symptoms of leptospirosis.

Provincial public health chief Dr Thawatchai Kamoltham said his office had given flood-affected residents basic medical supplies including first-aid kits, plastic boots and gloves and dispatched medical staff to check on villagers on a regular basis.