This is the moment a gas canister explodes as a driver fills up at a petrol station in Iran, ripping the roof off the old banger like a tin can.

The incident took place at a petrol station in the city of Mashhad in the Iranian province of Razavi Khorasan on 14th September.

Fire chief Mostafa Alizade said a team of firefighters from Station Eight was sent to the scene immediately after the explosion was reported.

According to the fire department, a petrol station worker was injured in the blast and was sent to hospital for treatment.

Local media said the vehicle was an old Kia Pride, assembled in the country by the Iranian automaker Saipa and popular with locals because of their low price.

However, the owner of this particular Pride had reportedly converted it into a hybrid that could run on both petrol and CNG (compressed natural gas).

For the gas fuel, the owner bought a second-hand CNG cylinder which he kept in the boot.

Alizade pointed out that second-hand CNG cylinders can be hazardous and residents should refrain from buying them used.

If someone was in the car at the time of the explosion, they would have certainly been killed, the fire chief added.

The footage shows the car roof being ripped off like a tin can as three men and a petrol station worker run from the scene.

It is unclear if the local authorities are investigating the incident.