This is the terrifying moment a dust devil tornado damaged homes in Thailand.

The powerful gust of swirling wind was seen in the Phra Ram 3 area of the Thai capital Bangkok late on Monday afternoon October 4.

Footage shows pieces of piece of wood, roof tiles and dust being sucked into the sky by the powerful twister cyclone as terrified residents looked on.

Resident Ha Kumpa was one of the residents who recorded the dark whirlwind while she was preparing food for her family. She added: ‘I was praying it didn’t move towards my home.’

The tornado lasted for more than five minutes before it gradually dissipated. There were no injuries reported but a number of buildings in the area were damaged.

Dust devils are a type of whirlwind tornado that form when the sun heats a patch of land and the air above becomes warmer and rises quickly.

Cooler air then moves into the low-pressure gap left by the rising warm air. The new drafts of cooler air also heat up, rise and the cycle continues, picking up dust and debris making the spiral visible as it rises skywards.