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"It's not right to blame the dams in China for the flooding," the department's directorgeneral Siripong Hansapreuk said yesterday.

On Wednesday, the river reached its highest level for the first time in three decades.

"The river is overflowing because of rain," Siripong explained.

At present, several provinces are flooded and residents at Nong Khai, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom and Chiang Rai are suffering the most.

Heavy downpours are also continuing in several of these provinces.

In Nakhon Phanom, floods have damaged nearly 200,000 rai of farmland.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry is sending medical aid to flood victims in Chiang Rai, Nong Khai and Nakhon Phanom where some 3,628 residents are afflicted with influenza and athlete's foot, Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said yesterday.

About 30,000 medical aid kits were distributed in the areas and mobile medical units are also heading that way to provide treatment. The minister said more than 100,000 drugs had been reserved to help victims.

Chaovarat said he had also ordered provincial public health offices to keep an eye out for infections and diseases, especially diarrhoea. So far, nobody in the flooded provinces has reported any severe symptoms, he added.