Hundreds of homes were submerged after heavy rain caused flash floods in Sukhothai province, northern Thailand, today (August 24).<br /><br />Residents were forced to flee when water came gushing through their properties and filling farm land during the night.<br /><br />Rescue teams descended on the area to help those stranded in their homes.<br /><br />Officials said that heavy rain in the north of the country had caused the Yom River, which flows through the province, to burst its bank.<br /><br />Provincial irrigation office chief Amnart Inthawongkaew said that sluice gates were being opened along the rapidly rising river to feed water into all canals.<br /><br />The flood is moving downstream from Sukhothai and Phitsanulok into Phichit, boosted by regular downpours in the upper northern region since last week.<br /><br />Thailand is currently going through its annual monsoon rainy season which sees regular rainstorms and flash floods. The torrential weather lasts from May until October.