Some 209,633 people in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi provinces have been hit by heavy flooding brought on by days of torrential rains, with 1,609 people evacuated from their submerged homes, according to an official report.

Army troops have been ordered to place thousands of sandbags to form a protective dyke around the Phra Ram Ratchaniwet palace in Petchaburi province, Thai army spokesman Somkuan Saengpattaranetr said.

"This palace is an important historical landmark and one of the most famous tourist destinations in the province," Somkuan told AFP. "If the floodwaters get in to the compound it will damage the palace."

The European-style palace, one of several in the kingdom and completed in 1916 during the reign of King Rama VI, is located in the central city of Phetchaburi just 50 metres (yards) from the overflowing Petchaburi River.

Thailand's royal household has helped in relief efforts, providing emergency food aid to families most severely affected by the flooding.

Over 5,000 emergency kits and 28,740 food packets have been sent to needy households in Prachuap Khiri Khan, while 19,622 emergency kits and 23,570 food packets have been distributed in Petchaburi, according to a statement by the interior ministry's department of disaster prevention and mitigation.

The government also deployed 65 rescue boats, which Thai television showed ferrying residents and their possessions from flooded areas to higher ground.

The damage bill from the severe weather has topped 1.0 billion bahtmillion dollars).

A 13-year-old boy drowned Friday in Ratchaburi but his body has yet to be recovered, the statement said.

Some 292 roads have been inundated including Highway 4, the main north-south artery along the Thai peninsula, which was under 90 centimetres (35 inches) of water near Petchaburi, some 123 kilometres (76 miles) southwest of Bangkok.

However, government spokesman Sita Divari said State Railways of Thailand resumed its normal train service Tuesday after it was halted by the flooding.

Large swathes of land still remained underwater, including about 48,000 hectares of farm land.

One expert said water levels had peaked at two key dams in Petchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

"The situation is not as critical there as a few days ago," said an official at the emergency flood centre in the agriculture ministry.

The Thai cabinet Tuesday approved 200 million baht (5.0 million dollars) from the central budget to help rehabilitate submerged agriculture areas, while the transportation ministry has asked for another 86 million baht to repair damaged roads, Sita said.

The government also approved an extension of debt payment and interest rate reduction for farmers affected by the flooding.

TERRA.WIRE