Five people were injured when a pavilion collapsed on them during a storm in Thailand.

The locals were taking shelter under the structure as monsoon rains battered Nakhon Pathom province before the building caved in on August 23.

Police Captain Nataphan Damnoenvorakul of the Sam Phran District Police Station said officers received a report at around 5:45 pm and rushed to the site near the entrance of a temple.

They found the 5x6 metre pavilion in shambles, with five people buried beneath the debris.

The wounded were identified as a girl, 10, who suffered a head injury, Prasert Koputhoi, 74, who was pierced with a piece of wood on his back, Kosit, 32, who suffered bruises on his shoulders, and two unnamed men who had wounds on their legs and arms.

They were taken to the Sam Phran Hospital for treatment.

A local said heavy rain and strong winds had hit the area and caused an electric transformer to explode.

The storm had also hit a nearby market, forcing shoppers to wait out the rain.

Police Captain Nataphan said: 'The villagers told us that the pavilion was old and in disrepair. It has not been fixed in more than 20 years, which likely caused the collapse.'

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.