Authorities and conservationists are rushing to rescue elephants, pigs and buffaloes from flash flooding in Thailand's northern Chiang Mai province, a senior official said on Friday (Oct 4). Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said 117 elephants had been saved but nine more needed help.

Flooding in Chiang Mai's city centre also shuttered the central train station and forced tourists to evacuate hotels.

A well-known elephant sanctuary in Thailand appealed for help on Friday after torrential flash floods forced the evacuation of about 100 elephants.

Flash flooding in popular Thai tourist hotspot Chiang Mai has killed three people, a health official said Sunday, as visitors evacuated hotels through knee-high muddy water and shops closed in the city centre.

Flash floods swept through a popular elephant sanctuary in northern Thailand on Thursday, killing two elephants and forcing the evacuation of about 100 more alongside dozens of tourists, amid urgent pleas for help.

More than 100 elephants in northern Thailand have been moved to higher ground to escape rapidly rising flood waters, local media reported, but many other animals were still stuck as their sanctuary struggled to evacuate them on Friday.