Panicked residents fled as a tornado carried debris into their homes in the Philippines.

Footage shows frantic villagers running away from a rotating cloud of debris moving in their direction in Digos city, on July 11.

Another clip showed the extreme weather phenomenon drifting towards a house near the rice field as a heavy downpour pounded the area.

No one was hurt but the tornado wrecked 16 houses and damaged rice crops. The affected families were taken to temporary shelters and given food packs. No

Resident Kayeng Porcadilla said: ‘The tornado was right outside our doorstep. It was the first time I have seen one and I didn't expect it to be that close.'

Another villager Inday Mucogas who was with the group that was chased by the tornado said: ‘I thought we were going to die. I used to only see that in movies.'

Tornadoes are dangerous packed with winds of more than 350kilometres per hour speed. This is enough to destroy houses and lift heavy objects along its path but most injuries and deaths recorded were due to falling and flying debris.