Continuous rainfall had led to landslides damaging five homes and 2,000 rai of forest in Nan's Thung Chang and Chalermprakiat districts, prompting officials to evacuate locals to temporary shelters.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation official Thawat Petchveera, said 419 residents of Chalermprakiat district's Ban Sob Peun and 130 villagers of Thung Chang district's Ban Nam Pi village had been evacuated to schools and temples on higher ground where they would remain until the rain stopped.

Meanwhile, authorities rushed to build temporary shelters and toilets for 30 Ban Nam Pau families in Thung Chang district. Twenty villagers suffered from eye conjunctivitis and three severe cases had to be sent to Thung Chang Hospital.

The discovery yesterday of a 700 metre-long and 50-metre-wide crack in the ground in Chiang Klang district's Ban Kok village prompted local officials to evacuate 152 residents to temporary shelters in the Phu Wae National Park.

In neighbouring Chiang Mai, Mae Rim district chief Boonserm Jitjensuwan reported that the Mae Rim River had overflowed and inundated 70 houses. But villagers were warned in advance and no injuries or property damage were reported.

Meanwhile, yesterday's Cabinet meeting approved another Bt343 million to assist flood victims in five flood-struck areas in the North. Cabinet earlier approved an initial Bt150 million from this fiscal year's budget, government spokesman Danuporn Punnakan said.

The Cabinet also proposed that Bt503 million from the next fiscal year be used to help flood victims in five northern provinces including Nan, he said.

The weather bureau has warned of heavy rains over the next few days in the North and Northeast, notably Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Phichit, Sukhothai, Yasothon and Ubon Ratchathani.

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