A powerful whirlwind blew through a Buddhist shrine amid heavy rain in Pattaya, Thailand.

Video shows the howling winds battering the religious monument in front of the Pattaya City Police Station past midnight on October 5.

The gales had also scattered debris across a beach front, sweeping away orange plastic road barriers, rubbish, and leaves. Tourists in the Thai 'Sin City' were sent scurrying for shelter during the storm.

Local media reported that the city had earlier been hit by high temperatures followed by a rainstorm that subsided after 30 minutes. There was no flooding reported.

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.