“Heavy rain which began at 2am (on Friday) caused a landslide that damaged homes. Those living in the area were caught off guard,” local police chief Khundech Na Nongkhai told AFP.
Thailand has endured heavy monsoon rains this week, largely affecting the kingdom’s southern coast and areas in the north.
Rescuers, military personnel and volunteers have been deployed to deliver supplies to those in need and to help with clean-up efforts.
More funds have been put in place to help the victims, and a team has been set up to study the cause of the landslide, the government said.
While Thailand experiences annual monsoon rains, man-made climate change is causing more intense weather patterns that can make destructive floods more likely.
Widespread flooding across Thailand in 2011 killed more than 500 people and damaged millions of homes around the country.
