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Sakkarin Saengarun, chief of Muang Khon Kaen's Tha Phra station, said all train services, except to Nakhon Ratchasima, Nong Khai and Udon Thani, had been suspended for passenger safety, but if no more rain fell, repairs should let the services resume this morning.

Highway Police advised motorists to use other routes, as Mitraparb Highway's bridge in Ban Haed was swept away and many parts had only one lane usable, causing heavy traffic congestion.

Tambon Ban Ped mayor Paisal Jittamai threatened to gather 500 signatures to complain to the Administrative Court about Nakhon Khon Kaen Municipality's failure to open the sluice gate, causing severe flooding in Ban Ped.

Nakhon Khon Kaen deputy mayor Theerasak Thikhayupan insisted the gate was not closed but left ajar because if it were fully open, floodwaters would submerge the city.

Many areas in Nakhon Ratchasima town were submerged. Thousands of families in Benjarong, Thao Sura, Nong Pleu and Nong Sano suffered waters that were 80100cm deep. Some 300 families of alreadyflooded Tambon Nong Bua Sala were dealt a second blow by Wednesday's downpours, causing flood levels to rise to 1.50 metres. Officials dispatched seven boats to assist them. Lam Phra Phloeng Dam in Pak Thong Chai district was near full capacity.

In Phitsanulok, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn saw to it that 1,500 relief kits were delivered to residents in Wang Thong, Muang and Noen Maprang district.

In Lop Buri, some residents, hundreds of whom suffered waterborne diseases, were so fed up that they put up a sign saying they would stop pay¬ing taxes, as their plight had been ignored by the authorities.