Northern Thailand is on alert for heavy rain from 16-18 July, with parts of Nan and Tak forecast to receive more than 200 millimetres and face severe flash-flood and landslide risks.

Farmers in Tak’s drought-hit Phop Phra district on Monday used cat dolls in a parade ritual for rain-making, respecting the country’s animal-rights law by not using live felines for the very first time, said village headman Sangad Winnai.