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Published on August 17, 2007

In Therng district, floods poured down from jungle hillsides and later swelled the Ngao River, putting riverside homes under a metre of water. Seven villagers in three neighbouring districts were inundated.

The swelling Ngao River also washed away large numbers of stock from fish farms and almost swept away a couple, who were trapped in their home and were eventually rescued.

Debris and mud are being removed from a road heading to Khun Ta Village in Therng district. Election officials fear this will interrupt voting in Sunday's referendum.

Mae Pao Dam in Phya Mengrai district was overflowing and had flooded hundreds of households, leaving residents isolated. Assistance has now reached the area.

A hospital and four schools in Wiang Chiang Rung subdistrict have been ordered closed after a local dam was breached.

More than 1,000 rai of farmland in Khun Tal and Wiang Chai districts are under water, and three schools closed.

Emergency and evacuation drills are underway in neighbouring Mae Hong Son while owners of tourist ventures fear possible heavy flooding may hit their business, as it did in 2004.

Forecasters have warned of more heavy rains in the North for the rest of the month. And people living near rivers in the North and upper Northeast have been told to brace for flash floods.