Four people were injured after a tree was blown over during storms and crushed cars parked beside a Buddhist temple in Thailand.

The giant Ylang-Ylang tree, estimated to be at least 100-years-old, fell after a gust of wind in front of Doi Suthep temple in Chiang Mai province.

Footage shows the aftermath of the huge tree collapsing into the road and landing on the cars following strong winds.

One red truck being used as a local public transport was damaged, as well as two other cars that were smashed on the bonnet and roof by the heavy wood.

Street vendors said they heard a loud bang and saw the giant tree had already crashed on the cars.

One of the vendors said: "The tree had been standing on that spot since I was a child. I'm not sure why it fell, its leaves still look alive."
They hurried to check the vehicles and found people inside the red truck so they called the rescuers for help.

The rescuers cut portions of the tree using a chainsaw to extract the passengers before rushing them to nearby Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital.

The passengers were not seriously hurt and allowed to leave after their light scratches were treated.

Phu Ping Ratchaniwet Police Station officers arrived at the temple to investigate and found the tree's roots had already rotten away and fell down due to its weight.