Three people were killed in their sleep and 60 more injured after a fire broke out in a block of flats this morning.

Flames started after an apparent electrical short-circuit in the 30year-old apartment block in Bangkok, Thailand, at around 2.30am.

The fire quickly spread through the fifth floor of the building housing more than 300 people in 180 rooms in the Ratchathewi district of the city.

Terrified residents ran screaming out of the building while fire fighters arrived and woke up people who were still sleeping.

The blaze spread to the 14th and top floor before emergency services had it under control after several hours.

Rescuers said a 46-year-old man named as Methip Rodtim died on the 12 floor while two others were pronounced dead in hospital. At least 60 others received treatment for smoke inhalation.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said the cause of the fire is suspected to have been an electrical short circuit in room where old wires were kept. He blamed an outdated alarm system for failing to alert people inside.

Nattawut Kongsawat, a resident who is now in hospital for smoke inhalation, said he was sleeping on the sixth floor when he and his partner smelt smoke outside.

He said: ''I opened the door and smoke was coming into the room. We escaped by a fire exit. It’s like what I saw in a movie, but this was real.''

Nop Udorn, who ran outside after waking up, said: ''I had everything in my room. It was near the top. I am waiting to go back inside to see what has been destroyed.''