A toddler was killed on her birthday when a tree fell on top of her during a storm in Thailand.

Three-year-old Chananthida Detthong was celebrating her birthday after school when strong winds uprooted the heavy padauk tree at her home in Uthai Thani province on May 13.

The youngster, who was enjoying a bowl of noodles with her grandmother at the time, was crushed beneath the massive trunk.

Thap Than Police Station officers and rescuers arrived after receiving a report at 3:30 pm.

The responders used cutting tools to saw off the tree pinning Chomphu to the ground. The operation took 10 minutes, but the girl had already died at the scene.

Her grandmother, 61, said: 'It was around 3 pm, I picked up Chomphu from school. We were eating at our usual spot outside the house when the tree fell.

'I was injured on the arm, but the tree crushed my granddaughter and the dining table. I could not do anything to help her.'

Chomphu's school teacher Pranee Sitthiketkorn said the girl died on her third birthday.

Local media reported that several other houses in the district were damaged by the storm.

The Thai Meteorological Department forecasted on May 13 that central Thailand, including Uthai Thani, would experience hot weather and haze during the day, along with scattered thundershowers and 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.