The killer floods hit the district on Monday night and separated the seven members of his family. His daughter Patcharee, four, his mother-in-law Chaleam Buapim, 61, and his two nephews - Chakrit, six, and Chakphet, 14.

His wife Somkit and son Kritimek, two, are still missing.

"My wife had taken the kids to have dinner at Chaleam's house and had to stay there overnight because of the heavy rain," he recalled, tearfully. "I never imagined such a nightmare would happen in my life."

The Uttaradit resident was among many people who came to Laplae district's relief centre where bodies found in the area were brought.

The sobbing from those who had lost loved ones resounded in the shelter, the terrible tragedy still haunting them. All were in shock.

Chainarong Cheisuwan, 27, severely bruised, recalled that the night was fine after the previous three days of steady rain. He had slept well until about just after

midnight when he was awakened by a loud rumbling.

"I saw boulders and rocks tumbling down the hillsides and crashing into the neighbouring houses. I heard people screaming. I just ran from the house in shock and forgot I had left my parents and wife in the house," he said.

Kham Khmasen, 49, of Ban Pha Moob village said when the rainwater started flooding houses in the village to knee height, most people were still unconcerned and unhurriedly moved their possessions to a higher place; some stayed in front of the TV watching their favourite soap operas.

"We were careless because we had never considered it would end in a disaster," said Kham.

Shortly after, mud and logs smashed into their houses carried on a huge torrent of water three metres deep, sweeping away his wife and children.

"I clung onto a log until the morning," he said.

Muang Onlum, 70, said she also hung on to an uprooted tree with her daughter, but lost her grip when she became too tired and slipped into the current; fortunately her daughter grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back.

Although very fortunate to be alive, most of them have lost everything.

"We have nothing left, not even rice. Only some bottled drinking water," said Kham, 49, who was left bankrupt after the torrent wiped out his house, his crops and his paddy fields.