Disaster area declared in flooded Thailand

BANGKOK, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Thailand declared a disaster area in two provinces Sunday as flooding in the Central Plain region worsened.

The declaration included all of Ayutthaya province and a swath of Phichit province where the Lop Buri River has overflowed, leaving many riverside communities underwater.

Local officials in the affected areas have been ordered to scout out areas of high ground where residents can be evacuated.

The Bangkok Post said the flooding has been ongoing for nearly a month and has affected more than 224,000 people. Dams in the area have been opening their flood gates, adding to the problem.