Three people were injured in a gas tank explosion in Thailand on Saturday.

Kawin Kopho, 36, was stacking fuel cylinders at his store in Samut Prakan province on July 15 when one of the containers fell to the floor. The impact sparked a huge fire that rapidly engulfed Kavin's shop, nearby stores, and a five-storey apartment building.

Firefighters in the Bang Bo district rushed to the scene to control the flames and evacuate residents in the area.

They said three people were injured - a vendor and a resident who suffered smoke inhalation, and Kavin who suffered minor burns on his arms and face while carrying fuel tanks out of his store during the blaze. They were taken to a hospital and were not in critical condition.

The fire was extinguished after two hours, responders said. Firefighters said there were more than 50 fuel cylinders at Kawin's shop that caused the flames to spread quickly.

The blaze ripped through six neighbouring stores and an apartment, and destroyed a car and four motorcycles, they said.

Decha Petchthai, head of the Samut Prakan Disaster Mitigation Volunteers, said: 'There were initial reports of a bedridden patient trapped in the apartment, so we made sure to check each room, but we found no one matching the description.

'The store owner told us a 15kg gas cylinder slipped and fell while he was carrying it, igniting the fire.'

Yutthaphon Khamkaew, a delivery rider passing through the area during the explosion, said: 'I heard a loud explosion and found that there was a fire coming from the back of the store.

'I tried to find an extinguisher to put it out, but the fire had already spread and I couldn't come close.'

Authorities said they have cordoned off the area and were investigating the fire.