NAN - The Interior Ministry has warned people living along the rising Nan River in this northern province to move their belongings and bedridden relatives to safe places to escape the runoff from upstream Pua district.

Torrential rains that began Wednesday morning, with accumulations reaching 380 millimetres in some areas, have triggered severe flash floods and river overflows in the province.

Two people have died in the floods so far, one each in Pua and Tha Wang Pha districts, Deputy Interior Minister Jaseth Thaiseth said late Wednesday.

Floodwater on Wednesday afternoon began flowing from Pua district southward to Tha Wang Pha, Muang, Phu Phiang and Wiang Sa districts on the way to the Sirikit dam in adjacent Uttaradit province, Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said in Nan on Wednesday.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) urged people living near the Nan River in the affected districts to move belongings and bedridden relatives to higher and safer ground immediately.

The river started to overflow in Phu Phiang district at 4.51pm and in Muang district at 6.58pm, it said. Officials expect the water level to peak at 9.10 metres at 2am on Thursday, compared with a peak of 9.49m last year.

The department advised people in Bo, Nai Wiang, Kong Khwai, Du Tai and Chaiyasan sub-districts of Muang district and those in Muang Jang, Fai Kaeo, Muang Tued, Tha Nao and Napang sub-districts in Phu Phiang to move vulnerable relatives and belongings to higher ground immediately.

In Phu Phiang district alone, 17 evacuee shelters have been set up, mostly at Buddhist temples, schools and local auditoriums.

Floodwaters were receding late Wednesday in Tha Wang Pha and in Pua district, which was struck by runoff in the morning as rain accumulation measured about 340mm.

Electricity officials said 15 high-voltage poles were toppled and 23 others were leaning along Highway 1256 in Doi Phu Kha National Park in Pua, leaving the road impassable.

Mr Polapee said the incident caused a blackout that affected about 27,000 people. Electricity officials were restoring power supply, starting with hospitals and evacuation centres.

He said the runoff affected 72 villages but the water was shallow enough for people to leave evacuation centres in Pua district on Wednesday evening.

In Muang district, Nan governor Chainarong Wongyai said sandbags had been moved into position to protect Nan Hospital. Four hospital buildings also have their own concrete embankments and generators that can supply power for three days, he said.

The hospital has also opened a field hospital to receive accident and emergency patients at the provincial public health office.

Another flood victim is rescued in Pua on Wednesday.

Rescuers manoeuvre a boat to facilitate evacuation through the strong runoff in Pua on Wednesday.

Rescuers bring a pig and a resident to safer ground in Pua district.

A rescuer carries a vulnerable flood victim in Pua district.

Rescuers wade through a strong current to a flooded house in Pua district.

Electricity workers handl felled high-voltage poles in Pua on Wednesday.