More than 30 houses were damaged when a waterspout tornado ripped through a seaside village in the Philippines.

The twister churned over waters near Sinunuc Village in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur province and tore through wooden homes on the shore on August 9.

Residents told local media they took cover as the vortex blew their roofs and some of their appliances away. One person was reported injured.

The local government has distributed relief goods to the affected homeowners, who have declined to leave for evacuation centres and opted to repair their houses instead.

Waterspout tornadoes form when wind merges from opposite directions near the water's surface, creating a small area of spin. Warm air at the surface causes the spinning air to rotate faster and it starts to rise – picking up water at the same time and forming the distinctive elephant-funnel shape.

As warm air rises, the cooler air moves in below and then rises, too. Sometimes the air spins so fast that it stretches and a funnel appears from the water to the thunderstorm cloud above.

Waterspouts are generally not dangerous but they can be a risk for aircraft flying through the area and for coral reefs and marine life in the water immediately below. Sailors should also try to avoid waterspouts as the power of the wind can cause damage.

They very rarely damage buildings as they dissipate when they reach land. However, they are dangerous of boats caught in their path or aircraft that fly through them.