Death toll from 2 months of lashing rain rises to 297 in Thailand | CNN

Thailand battles severe flooding —

Sandbags surround temples in Ayutthaya on October 13, 2011 in an attempt to keep the rising waters out.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

A reclining Buddha in the ancient city of Ayutthaya falls foul of rising waters on October 13, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

Fifteen elephants are stranded on top of Ayutthaya's Royal Elephant Kraal from the floods.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

An aerial picture shows a flooded temple in the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya on October 11, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

A Thai boy pushes a boat with his dog in floodwaters in suburban Bangkok, on October 11, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

Elephants stand in low-lying floodwater as they eat grass on the side of a street in Ayutthaya on October 12, 2011

Thailand battles severe flooding —

A tuk tuk (taxi) driver tries navigating the flooded streets in Ayutthaya on October 12, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

This aerial picture shows cars submerged in floodwaters at a Honda car factory outside Ayutthaya on October 11, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

Thai mahouts ride their elephants through the flooded Ayutthaya streets on October 10, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

A Thai employee of a riverside restaurant sits idle as water from a river floods low-lying areas of Bangkok on October 4, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

One of a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Ayutthaya province is inundated by floodwaters on October 10, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

Thai residents transport a scooter over floodwaters along a street in the city of Ayutthaya on October 6, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

Thai residents stand in floodwaters along a street in the city of Ayutthaya on October 6, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

Buddhist monks walk through high water as floods inundate Ayutthaya province on October 10, 2011.

Thailand battles severe flooding —

An elderly woman is evacuated as flooding causes havoc on October 9, 2011 in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

Thailand battles severe flooding

Story highlights

More rain is predicted in some provinces and in the capital city

Residents in affected areas used boats, tires and Styrofoam slabs to get around

Crews work feverishly to protect Bangkok

The situation in the capital city "is not critical yet," the governor says

Bangkok, Thailand CNN —

The death toll from the worst floods in half a century to hit Thailand continues to rise.

By early Sunday morning, the number stood at 297 from two months of lashing rain, with more than 8.5 million in 61 provinces affected by the rising waters, authorities said.

More rain was predicted for Sunday in some provinces and in the capital city, Bangkok.

In the ancient city of Ayutthara, one of the worst-hit regions, military trucks moved slowly down the main street, cutting through a constant river of water, passing out aid to those who can get close.

Anyone with a boat used it to transport aid or to help neighbors carry their possessions from flooded houses. Others used rubber tires of slabs of Styrofoam.

In Bangkok, crews worked feverishly, widening canals and strengthening flood barriers to protect the city.

“I have to say here that there is a lot of water coming to Bangkok but the situation not critical yet,” said Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

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The Bangkok suburb of Sam Kok is sandwiched between the overflowing Chao Phraya River and the 2.5-meter floodwalls that are so far successfully protecting the inner and commercial part of the capital. The water here has nowhere to go and levels are rising fast.

“In one or two days (flood waters) will pass through Bangkok, but the fact is that the impact of such flow would be less if the water was allowed to pass through, rather than concentrated in one area,” the Flood Relief Operations Command said Sunday.

Floods are an annual occurrence in the country but it has been particularly acute this year.

Thais across the country are donating food, water and clothing to help the worst-hit areas. Authorities said donations have far surpassed previous years.

The government said that it has received $2.07 million in donations, including from other countries, by Sunday. The United States said it is sending 26 helicopters to help the relief effort, invaluable as more roads turn to rivers and become impassable.

United Nations agencies also are on standby, while the activating the World Health Organization has offered emergency health kits.

CNN’s Paula Hancocks and Kocha Olarn contributed to this report.