An hour after the procression was d

An hour after the procression was due to start the rain was still pouring down.

The 56 candle floats remained stationary around the park at the Thao Suranaree Monument and the city was having doubts whether the procession would be held or not.

There were smiles all round when the rain eased off by noon and the wax candle festival activities began.

Provincial governor Winai Buapradit said the local meteorological office reported 120 millimetres of rain had fallen, causing quick flooding inside the Suranaree Army Base, where the water was more than one metre deep. The base commander authorised the knocking of holes in the wall surrounding the base, to let the water escape.

Mr Winai said the heavy rain will benefit farmers as it will raise water levels in several large reservoirs which are only around 33% full at the moment.

Piyachat Insawang, chief of provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office in Nakhon Ratchasima, said the storm caused flooding about 50cm deep in front of the Save One Department Store in Muang district. Flooding was also reported in Bua Yai district