A woman has been left near-blind, in constant agony and with her mouth melted shut after her estranged husband allegedly attacked her with acid.

Atsede Nigussiem, 26, was at home in the Tigray area of Ethiopia when she opened the door to find the man there.

He allegedly launched an attack with a corrosive substance that destroyed one of her eyes and ate through the skin on her head and legs.

Her five-year-old son was sleeping nearby.

Doctors said Ms Nigussiem, who is receiving specialist treatment at a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, cries almost constantly.

Communicating in writing, she said: "I don't know why my husband did this. I was at my parents house late at night.

"I just opened the door and it happened. I'm heartbroken and in pain."

Staff at Vejthani Hospital said the dying tissue must be removed from Ms Nigussiem's face, and that new skin needs to be grafted on.

(ViralPress (ViralPress)

While she is said to have reported the assault to police in Ethiopia, she said she did not know where her husband was now.