A raging dust devil tornado blew over marquees at an event in Thailand.

Footage shows the freak weather phenomenon forming behind the tents at a tapioca flour fair in Mukdahan province on March 6.

It picked up dust and dried earth before lifting up the large structures making for movie-like apocalyptic scenes.

The marquees were set up to provide shade to more than 300 farmers and vendors who would attend the exhibition but it was damaged and had to be rearranged.

Onlooker Tamakron Chaibubpha, who attended the event, said: 'The wind came suddenly and hit everything in its path. It was scary.'

Dust devil tornadoes are types of whirlwinds that form when the sun heats a patch of land and the air above becomes warmer and rises quickly.

Cooler air then moves into the low-pressure gap left by the rising warm air. The new drafts of cooler air also heat up and rise and the cycle continues, picking up dust and debris and making the spiral visible.

They are not as dangerous as supercell tornadoes, which can cause severe damage.