5 killed by flash floods in Thailand

Flash floods triggered by days of heavy rain killed at least five people and trapped thousands of others on rooftops and inside trains in northern Thailand, officials said Tuesday.

Photo: 5 killed by flash floods in Thailand

Officials said the death toll was expected to rise as outlying villages hit by landslides were reached by rescuers.

The floods, following three consecutive days of rain, inundated several towns in the provinces of Nan, Phrae, Lampang, Sukhothai and Uttaradit and caused landslips in the mountainous region, officials said.

In Uttaradit's Lablae district, more than 2,000 people were trapped on the roofs of their houses or in trees, said Nitipat Pimpiriyakul, chief of the provincial Disaster Prevention and Rescue Center.

Rescue teams with boats were sent to the area to evacuate the stricken residents.

"We believe that the death toll will rise because rescue teams are still unable to get into villages where the landslide hit the houses of villagers," Nitipat said.

More than 1,000 passengers were also trapped inside four trains stranded in Uttaradit stations with food running out, said Montakan Sriwipas, a spokeswoman for the state railways.

Railway service to northern Thailand has been suspended, Montakan said.

Uttaradit is located about 420 kilometers (280 miles) north of Bangkok, reports the AP.

I.L.