Three politicians were injured when an LED screen collapsed on them at a festival in Thailand.

Deputy Interior Minister Sabida Thaiseth, 40, was presiding over an inauguration when the stage backdrop collapsed at the Loeng Nok Tha District Stadium in Yasothon province, on February 16.

Footage shows spectators panicking as the heavy steel scaffold plunged onto the government officials.

Sabida and Ubon Ratchathani MP Sutthichai Charoonnate suffered minor injuries.

However, the provincial MP Thanapat Srichana suffered a fractured backbone and was admitted to the Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital.

He later wrote online that he was recovering and did not need surgery.

He said: 'Due to strong winds, the LED screen collapsed. I turned and when I saw it, my instinct was to reach out my arm to catch it.

'I was worried about the minister next to me. However, the LED screen was too heavy for my arm to support. The screen fell directly onto my head.

'At that time, I felt a lot of back pain and was so shocked that I couldn't speak. Everything was dark, but I saw a light in front of me, so I quickly ran to the front of the stage and jumped down. After taking two steps, I fell down because I couldn't breathe. The ambulance immediately took me to the hospital.

'I would like to thank everyone who is concerned. I am at Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani Province. I am safe and sound. There will be no surgery, but I will wear a cast to fuse my broken bones together.'

Following the incident, provincial governor Chanchai Sorsriwichai has suspended all stage performances pending an investigation into the stage collapse.

Thailand and other developing countries have become known for their disregard for safety procedures - leading to accidents like this one.