This is the terrifying moment a violent dust devil ripped through a sports field while children were playing baseball.

The teams ran for cover when the swirling vortex of red dust formed in the field in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, on September 6.

Game referee Li Wang Han said the children were herded into a safe spot to wait for the dust storm to dissipate.

He said: "I shouted at the boys who were in the field to avoid the dust and run towards us.

"We were worried that the players might get hurt if they were touched by the tornado. Fortunately, everyone was safe."

The youngsters were amazed after seeing the weather phenomenon for the first time and the game continued after the dust storm had passed.

Dust devils are rotating masses of air which are relatively short-lived whirlwinds. They are usually harmless, but occasionally can cause some damage to both people and property.

They are formed when the hot sun heats the ground and the warmer air above it starts to rise, creating an area of low pressure below.

Cooler air rushes to fill the low pressure, which then then heats up, circulates like a whirlwind and picks up dried dirt from the surface as the air while it warms and rises quickly. They dissipate when all the air becomes cooler and the pressure equalises.