Beachgoers were amazed when this huge waterspout appeared off the coast of Koh Rong island in Cambodia yesterday afternoon (April 25th).

The swirling vortex emerged as people paddled in the ocean and sunbathed on the beach in Sihanoukville province.

Footage shows the twister stretching down from the dark grey storm clouds into the sea below.

The waterspout lasted for around three minutes before slowly dissipating.

A waterspout is an intense columnar vortex that occurs over a body of water.

Beachgoers were amazed when this waterspout appeared off the coast of Koh Rong island in Cambodia yesterday afternoon (April 25).

The swirling vortex of water and area emerged as people paddled in the ocean and sunbathed on the beach in Sihanoukville province.

Footage shows the rotating mini tornado stretching down from the dark grey storm clouds into the sea below.

The waterspout, a type of funnel cloud that resembles an elephant trunk, lasted for around three minutes before slowly dissipating.

Resident Yan Chetra said: ''The weather was cloudy and then I thought a storm was coming because the sky turned grey. Everyone noticed the water tornado moving near the boats. was scared it would damage them.''

Waterspouts are intense columns of swirling tornado clouds that form over a body of water.

They are most commonly found in subtropical areas and disappear shortly after they come into contact with land.

Cambodia's humid Southeast Asian climate combined with fierce thunderstorms can often give rise to waterspouts in coastal areas.