Terrified residents cowered in their homes as a ferocious tropical hailstorm ripped roofs from buildings injuring at least 12 people in northern Thailand.

Humid temperatures soared to 34 degrees Celsius before the raging downpour lashed homes causing extensive damage in Chiang Mai province shortly after 3:30pm local time on Saturday.

Footage shows how Bazz Su and his partner screamed and scrambled for cover as powerful winds tore the metal roofs from buildings outside, with debris blowing the air.

The storm also pulled the ceiling to collapse from their one-bedroom apartment leaving a mess of broken plasterboard and exposed wiring as the rain and ice came through.

Traumatised Bazz said: 'I thought I was going to die. I've never felt a storm as strong as this. It was like it was going to blow away the whole building.'

Officials said that at least 12 people were injured across the city when high voltage power lines collapsed, roofs were dislodges and billboards toppled over.

Electricity was lost across more than half of Chiang Mai, the country's second largest city after the capital Bangkok, while dozens of cars were also damaged.

Emergency workers were still working to restore power to some homes and repair damage on Sunday morning, March 19.

Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia are approaching their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms.