This was the stunning moment a large fire rainbow appeared through the clouds.

Onlookers captured the beautiful sight in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, last Friday (October 6) at 4pm local time.

The phenomenon - known as a circumhorizontal arc - is caused by sunlight shining through tiny ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.

It causes a stunning rainbow-like effect that appears like a glowing ball of multi-coloured bright light in the sky.

Morgan Chakkaew, 35, captured the footage while he was working last week in the Doi Saket district of the region.

He said: ''It was a beautiful sight. It's not something I've seen before and it's not something I think I'll see again.

''Everybody who looked up at the sky was amazes. It was a very powerful view like special effects from a science fiction movie.''

This was the stunning moment a large fire rainbow appeared through the clouds.