This is the terrifying moment a large waterspout tornado formed off the coast of Indonesia.

The whirlwind appeared in West Kalimantan province on Tuesday (November 3).

Onlooker Rizal Izal, 28, said: "The whirlwind happened during the day around the coast of Pagar Mentimun Village."

"The whirlwind seemed to connect the sea with very dark clouds. I was grateful to be safe, at that time I was on a boat home from fishing."

Head of the Emergency and Logistics Section of the Regional Disaster Management Agency of Ketapang Regency, Lauri Karyadi, said that he also received reports of the waterspout.

He said: "We have already visited the site and appealed to the residents there not to come near if a whirlwind occurs again."

The waterspout had dissipated after 15 minutes before there was a heavy downpour in the village.

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.

Scientists believe they are formed when pockets of warm air near the water surface rise suddenly.

Cooler air is then sucked into the low-pressure air, which picks up water and rises towards the clouds in a rotating motion.

This is the terrifying moment a large waterspout tornado formed off the coast of Indonesia.

The whirlwind appeared in West Kalimantan province on Tuesday (November 3).

Onlooker Rizal Izal, 28, said: "The whirlwind happened during the day around the coast of Pagar Mentimun Village."

"The whirlwind seemed to connect the sea with very dark clouds. I was grateful to be safe, at that time I was on a boat home from fishing."

Head of the Emergency and Logistics Section of the Regional Disaster Management Agency of Ketapang Regency, Lauri Karyadi, said that he also received reports of the waterspout.

He said: "We have already visited the site and appealed to the residents there not to come near if a whirlwind occurs again."

The waterspout had dissipated after 15 minutes before there was a heavy downpour in the village.

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.

Scientists believe they are formed when pockets of warm air near the water surface rise suddenly.

Cooler air is then sucked into the low-pressure air, which picks up water and rises towards the clouds in a rotating motion.