Roof blown onto power lines before falling onto cars in Thailand

This is the terrifying moment an steel roof was blown by a storm onto power lines in Thailand.

Dashcam footage shows the metal sheet hurtling into electric cables before falling onto passing cars as heavy monsoon rains battered Nonthaburi province on the evening of September 12.

The roof snagged on the cables and showered the road with sparks. It toppled three utility poles and a tree in the area, temporarily causing a road closure.

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority staff cut off power as authorities cleared the debris and repaired the damaged posts and wires.

Rattanathibet Police Station officers said there were no injuries, while 10 cars and motorcycles were damaged.

The metal roof was reportedly torn off from a three-storey building near the Pranangklao Hospital. The building's interior was flooded after it was left partially exposed to the rain.

A driver, Pramote Sriwichian, 63, said: 'I was parked on the side of the road waiting for my wife to leave the hospital when the storm struck. I saw a post falling toward my car so I ran away.'

Another motorist, Ekachai Apinanthaworn, 47, whose car was directly hit by the flying roof, said: 'My mother and I were visiting my sister at the hospital. At the time, I was alone in the car, when the metal sheet suddenly slammed on my car's roof. I'm lucky I wasn't injured.'

Ratchakrit Tiansem, 14, said his family runs a restaurant in the building. The youngster said he was on the third floor cleaning up when the gales ripped the corrugated iron roof over his head.

He said: 'I was injured when pieces of the ceiling fell on my leg. I heard a loud noise and was shocked when suddenly I could see the sky clearly above me. Now, all of our belongings are soaked in rainwater. My family and I had to temporarily stay at a hotel.'

Nonthaburi Deputy Mayor Apiwat Petrueng said engineers believe the roof was an illegal extension of the building. He said: 'We will inspect whether the necessary permissions were obtained to install the roof extension.'

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.