This is the terrifying moment a powerful dust devil tornado blew away a bamboo hut.

Dramatic footage shows the strong whirlwind vacuuming up surrounding dust, with locals scrambling for shelter as the updrafts intensified in Savannakhet province, Laos, on March 20.

As the vortex grew stronger, it swept away panels of corrugated iron before toppling over a nearby bamboo hut. The twister then blew into the adjacent field before dissipating.

No one was injured but the weather phenomenon caused significant damage when it tore through the hut and knocked down a motorcycle.

Onlooker Mos Soraseun said: 'It was so powerful. I've never been so close to a tornado. This day was very hot when it happened, so I'll beware of it happening again.'

Dust devil tornadoes are types of whirlwinds 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 and rise and the cycle continues, picking up dust and debris and making the spiral visible.

They are not as dangerous as supercell tornadoes, which can cause severe damage.