This is the chaotic moment villagers fled when a rocket burst in a spectacular explosion at a festival in Thailand.

The locals were celebrating the annual 'Bun Bang Fai' or Rocket Festival and had lit the hundred-kilo rocket as the main highlight of the festivities in Maha Sarakham province on May 9.

Instead of launching into the sky, however, the rocket exploded instead, sending shrapnel towards escaping residents. Onlooker Adisak Sanlard who attended the event said around 10 people were injured.

The Rocket Festival, also known as Bun Bang Fai, is practiced by Thais to mark the start of the monsoon rainy season. They believe that shooting rockets into the heavens will bring rain and abundant harvests in the coming months.