This is the dramatic moment an uprooted tree toppled onto power cables triggering an electricity outage as a fierce storm battered southern Thailand.

Video shows the half-century-old pine tree being blown down by strong winds in the Betong District of Yala province close to the border with Malaysia on March 21.

A spark flashed as a power transformer exploded and terrified car passengers screamed - fearing they could be struck by the debris from the torrential weather.

Onlooker Siriluck said: 'We were so close to the tree, I felt our car shake when it crashed onto the ground.'

The eight-storey tree blocked a road while pieces of corrugated iron ripped from a roof had fallen on top of cars. At least one house was reported to have been damaged.

Authorities were today clearing the roads and working to restore electricity. There were no reports of injuries or deaths during the storm.

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

The incident comes just days after a tropical storm smashed into Chiang Mai in the north of the country when humid temperatures reached 34 degrees Celsius. Dozens of buildings were damaged with roofs being ripped from buildings and billboards blown down.