A hiker was seriously injured by lightning while climbing a mountain during a thunderstorm in northern Thailand.

Phattaraporn Rattanasukhon, 30, was trekking up Doi Pui Luang mountain in Mae Hong Son province with 20 tourists when the storm rolled in on Sunday evening.

Thunder rumbled near the summit before a lightning bolt ripped through the sky and zapped Phattaraporn, knocking her unconscious and leaving severe burn wounds across her body.

Fellow hikers battled through rain and slippery terrain to carry her down the mountain.

They reached a nearby village at 7:45 pm and rushed her to Srisangwan Hospital, where she regained consciousness during the two-hour trip. She was later transferred to Nakornping Hospital in Chiang Mai for further treatment.

Muang Mae Hong Son district chief Yutthana Jaoduree warned visitors to avoid hikes during stormy weather.

Visitors were also advised to switch off mobile phones, stay away from tall trees and open huts, and seek shelter in low-lying areas, adding they should turn off their phones and electronics and avoid open areas when caught in a thunderstorm.

Residents said lightning strikes are common in the are during this season, often hitting tall trees and livestock such as cows and buffaloes.

Cloud-to-ground lightning happens when negative charges build up in a storm cloud and are drawn to the ground. When the electrical difference grows too strong, it jumps from the cloud to the earth as a lightning bolt.