Terrified residents looked on as a tornado ripped through villages in Pampanga, the Philippines yesterday (Mon) afternoon.

Houses, businesses and a school were among the buildings damaged during the thunderstorm which hit the region.

Manuel Esguerra, Jr., chief meteorological officer of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the tornado was caused by a thunderstorm that battered the area.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is still assessing the extent of the damage although no one was reportedly hurt.

Filmer Aljon Gutierrez said: ''I saw the tornado here in my home town. It destroyed houses, school structures and cause a power outage on Monday afternoon. It happened at about 1pm.''