This is the terrifying waterspout tornado formed next to a boat off the coast of the Philippines.

Onlooker Arlene Escobia Calo captured the tall swirling column on May 5 in Siargao Island, General Luna Surigao del Norte province.

The waterspout tornado moved dangerously close to the small wooden fishing boat before moving the opposite direction.

Arlene said: ‘This was the first time I had seen something like that, I was a little overwhelmed when I saw a ship coming. It looks like no one was hurt because the whirlwind passed quickly by the ship.’

Fair weather waterspouts like that seen in the video are most commonly found in subtropical areas and usually disappear shortly after they come into contact with land.

They form when winds merge from opposite directions near the water’s surface, creating a small area of spin. Sudden warm air at the surface causes the spinning air to rotate faster and it starts to rise – picking up water at the same time. Sometimes the air spins so fast that it stretches and a funnel appears from the water to the thunderstorm cloud above.