This is the dramatic moment an explosion in a packed restaurant engulfed a worker and injured diners.

Seven people suffered burns when a sudden blast erupted at the busy eatery in Bahia, Brazil, on September 15.

Shocking CCTV footage shows a female server cooking at the buffet counter as customers ate nearby.

When she added fuel to a chafing dish, a massive fire ignited across the buffet station, spreading to the counter and surrounding tables.

Startled diners can be seen leaping from their chairs and running in fear as smoke filled the room.

Others sprinted outside the building with their clothes on fire, while some tried to help friends extinguish the flames.

Moments later, another worker doused the blaze with a fire extinguisher.

Local media reported that two victims were transferred by helicopter to the Hospital Geral do Estado in Salvador with serious burns, while the others were treated locally and later discharged.

Authorities confirmed that a technical inspection of the restaurant is underway to determine the cause of the explosion.