A giant waterspout almost hit fishing boats as it ripped through the ocean in the Philippines.

The scary weather phenomenon formed off the coast in Sarangani province on February 9 near a fish port where locals had been trawling all day.

It was seen extending from a dark grey rain cloud and stretching down into the water below like an elephant trunk-shaped funnel of rotating smoke.

Footage shows the waterspout gaining size and strength while fishing boats raced back to the safety of the port and locals watched in amazement.

Resident Mike Cyryll Manlupig said: 'It lasted for almost 15 minutes from the time we first saw it. It was so big. We were so scared.

'The fishermen were also scared that their boats could be hit by the twister. It would mean harm for them and the boats could be destroyed as well so they could lose livelihood.'

The waterspout - biggest seen in the area - had not reached the port nor damaged any structure. No one was also reported hurt in the incident.

Waterspout tornadoes 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.

They very rarely damage buildings as they dissipate when they reach land. However, they are dangerous of boats caught in their path or aircraft that fly through them.