Terrified staff and customers ran for cover after a tornado ripped through a petrol station in Samut Prakan, Thailand, on Saturday (October 5).

The freak weather phenomenon materialised during a thunderstorm.

Staff at the building can be seen desperately running across the forecourt out of of the path of the swirling vortex which picked up debris in its path.

Glass windows from the buildings opposite were ripped from their frames and hurled onto the ground below.

The tornado zipped towards the building as terrified customers ran inside and held the door shut.

Terrified onlooker Phimnatthada Subthawee said: ''I could see there was a big storm coming as the clouds overhead were dark and grey. I knew there would be rain.

''I was shocked when the tornado appeared. It just came from nowhere. It formed so quickly and damaged the buildings. It was powerful and people ran away from it because they were so scared.''

Hundreds of buildings were damaged after storms hit the region on Saturday afternoon, at the peak of the country's monsoon rainy season.