A raging whirlpool terrified stranded locals during floods in Sukhothai province, northern Thailand, on August 25.<br /><br />The region was battered with water after strong currents in a river smashed through a dam before overflowing into nearby homes and fields.<br /><br />Footage shows a whirpool that formed dragging debris into the abyss below on Tuesday.<br /><br />Residents were forced to flee when up to two metres of water came gushing through their properties after a small dam was damaged by the strong currents.<br /><br />The river then burst its banks and torrents of water battered communities.<br /><br />Rescue teams descended on the area to help those stranded in their homes on Monday and Tuesday.<br /><br />Officials said that heavy rain in the north of the country had caused the strong currents in the Yom River, which flows through the province, to breach a 50-metre concrete small dam on Sunday.<br /><br />More sections of the small dam were damaged and the river overflowed onto farmland and villages. Dozens of electricity poles were torn down.<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.<br /><br />A secession of floods in recent weeks have battered thousands of rural villages leaving many families homeless.
