Weeks of heavy rains have brought flooding across at least 30 Thai provinces [EPA]

A month of heavy monsoon rains has affected nearly half the country's provinces, mainly in the northern, northeastern and central regions, Thailand's interior ministry has said.

Tens of thousands of people have fallen ill, often through water-borne diseases, and more than 200,000 hectares of farmland – mostly rice fields - have been damaged.

Some villages were battling water levels two metres high and soldiers had been sent to evacuate people to higher ground, especially in areas most susceptible to flash floods.

Emergency crews have begun delivering relief supplies, including food, water and medicine, to affected areas, Thai officials said.

Emergency sanitation equipment and special water purification tanks are also being brought in.

Thailand's meteorological department has warned that more heavy downpours and flash flooding could be expected soon.

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