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 . Asia 's wet and wild summer explained . 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 .
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 . The storm has already caused flooding that forced authorities to close a major highway linking Beijing with Shanghai. The situation in the capital city `` is not critical yet , '' the governor says .