This is the terrifying moment a taxi erupted into flames outside a convenience store in Thailand.

Driver Namkang Sakhom, 47, had taken her green Honda Civic to the Soi Chongsiri area of Samut Prakan province to buy some rice early morning on June 22.

Namkang said she noticed a burning smell shortly after parking in front of the store and leaving the vehicle. She turned around to see smoke and sparks coming from the front of the car.

The frantic motorist ran inside the 7-11 store to grab a fire extinguisher, but the blaze had grown too large to handle alone.

Store staff called firefighters to the scene, who arrived after receiving a report at 4:30 am.

They blasted the inferno with extinguishers, and the fire was gone after around 30 minutes, leaving Namkang's cab a charred husk.

Police Major Sitthipong Panthaisong from the Bang Phli Police Station said: 'After initial investigations, we believe the fire may have started from a short circuit in the cab's engine compartment.'

Namkang said: 'I drove the taxi to buy some rice to sell to the workers at a nearby factory. But while travelling, I suddenly smelled smoke, so I parked in front of the 7-11 to ask for an extinguisher.

'Some passers-by also tried to help, but the fire grew so fast. My car is ruined. But I'm glad no one was hurt.'

Authorities said they were investigating the specific cause of the fire.