Death toll from tropical depression Damrey has risen to nine in Thailand as heavy flood continued to plague the country's North and Northeast region.

Samart Chokkhanapitak, chief of the Irrigation Department, said the conditions were more worrisome in Lampang since water levels at the major dam the Kiew Lom had reached the peak.

Floodwater overflowed from several rivers in Lampang inundated downtown area and several other districts. The water level at Chaomae Suchada bridge was expected to rise to five meters Thursday night, the worst in the past 10 years, he was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.

Flash floods which intruded some 40 villages in the provinces left six people dead and one missing with the initial damage estimated at 500 million baht (12 million US dollars), said Lampang Governor Amornthat Niratsayakul.

A committee has been set up to monitor the release of water from dams and reservoirs and seek ways to tackle the problem of dams bursting.

Meanwhile, water levels in Ping river continued to rise putting downtown Chiang Mai at a fresh round of flash floods.

To prevent the inundation of run-off river water, border patrol police has already put up sandbags in flood-prone areas.

On Thursday, a flood relief center was established at Chiang Mai provincial hall to provide timely support to affected residents.

The flood has caused three people dead and two others missing in the northern province.

Source: Xinhua