10 July

Thai television footage on Tuesday showed pictures of students and teachers stranded after a heavy rain triggered flash floods and mudslides in Thailand's northern province of Tak.

The TV report said more than 20 students and teachers were stuck in Tha Song Yang district in Tak Province when torrential downpours hit the villages located in the mountainous terrain of the district for days.

TV images showed pictures of rescuers and workers rushing to clear the road using heavy equipment to reach a school in the village.

Teacher and students were wearing harness and clung onto a rope as rescue workers worked to pull them onto higher grounds.

Images also showed military personnel at the rescue operation, using heavy equipment to clear roads blocked by mud and debris.

Thai Meteorological Department has cautioned that a southeasterly wind will prevail on July 10-15 and lead to heavy downpours and flashfloods in lower North, North-East, lower Central, the East and the Gulf of Thailand.

XINHUA