This is the dramatic moment the roof covering an outdoor football pitch collapsed during a storm in Thailand.

The players were in the middle of a soccer game when they saw the roof made of tarpaulin and metal slowly buckling under the weight of the rain in Chiang Mai province on May 6.

CCTV footage shows the athletes scrambling out of the pitch as the roof caved in.

There were no injuries or casualties reported as the players and audience were able to flee in time.

Onlooker Komkrit said: 'The roof suddenly collapsed during the football match because the storm was very strong. We almost died.'

The Thai Meteorological Department forecasted that Northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai, would experience hot to very hot weather with haze, along with isolated thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are at the start of their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms. The rudimentary infrastructure often struggles with the deluge, leading to widespread flash floods.