This is the moment locals spotted a scary waterspout forming off the coast of the Philippines.

Video shows the weather phenomenon twisting near Iloilo province on April 18. A thin air column was seen forming over the water before dissipating after nearly a minute.

Onlooker Bon Nazarene said: 'I was on a ferry at the time. I saw the tornado in the distance and I was worried it could come towards us.'

Waterspout tornadoes form when wind merges from opposite directions near the water’s surface, creating a small area of spin. Warm air at the surface causes the spinning air to rotate faster and it starts to rise – picking up water at the same time and forming a cloud.

Sometimes the air spins so fast that it stretches and a funnel appears from the water to the thunderstorm cloud above.

Waterspouts are generally not dangerous but they can be a risk for aircraft flying through the area and for coral reefs and marine life in the water immediately below. Sailors should also try to avoid waterspouts – as the consequences of floating into one could be disastrous.