The incident occurred Tuesday, when the elephant was working in a forestry conservation project but suddenly went berserk, stamping to death Parinya Kanyase, 33, a government conservation worker in Song district of Phrae province, they said.

Police said the elephant, aged between 30 to 40, ran for a kilometremiles) before killing his second victim, Manee Chantawong, 55, who was also working on the project, and fleeing into the jungle.

Shortly afterwards the elephant trampled to death a third victim, 51-year-old corn farmer Dej Fongkaoew, and injured another, Pranom In-da, 30.

"Now dozens of police, forestry department officials and elephant foundation staff are searching for the elephant," Major Thawat Singkhapa, chief investigative officer of Song police station, told AFP.

"So far we have no clue where he is but we guess he is still in the area," he added.

Such attacks are rare in Thailand. Thailand is home to some 4,200 elephants, including 2,257 in the wild, according to forestry department figures.

TERRA.WIRE