Terrified residents watched as a huge waterspout tornado formed near their homes in the Philippines. Onlooker Phillip Alesna heard a thunder crash overhead and was shocked when he saw a massive grey funnel-shaped cloud towering above them in Cugman, Cagayan Province on October 5.

The waterspout disappeared after 20 minutes and was followed by heavy rain in the town.

He said: "The clouds were so dark and it was very unusual for me to see this kind of thing."

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.