Twelve people were injured when a car battery exploded causing a fire at a school in Thailand.

The blaze broke out when the 72V lithium phosphate battery from an electric vehicle burst into flames during a lesson at the IRPC Technological College in Rayong province on August 9.

Students and teachers were evacuated to the school's football field while others tried to control the fire using extinguishers.

However, the flames spread rapidly and they had to call the local fire department for help as thick smoke filled the school's corridors.

Firefighters arrived and successfully brought the fire under control within 20 minutes.

Seven students, three teachers, and two workers were trapped on the fourth floor of the building and suffered smoke inhalation.

They opened the windows and dropped to the floor to keep from inhaling the fumes while they waited to be rescued. All 12 individuals are safe and taken to the Sri Rayong Hospital for check-ups.

The university said an investigative committee was formed to determine the cause of the fire.

Police said they will also conduct a separate investigation.