This is the terrifying moment a storm battered a boat off the coast of Taiwan.

Video shows heavy rain and strong winds lashing the vessel as crew and passengers braced against the inclement weather off the port city of Keelung on March 31.

Onlooker Cai Chengyang said: 'No one could stand and we kept falling down because of the waves. It was a sunny day, and then it was suddenly raining cats and dogs.

'Luckily, no one was hurt, but some fishing rods were destroyed.'

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration issued a heavy rain warning for seven cities and counties in the country's northern region on March 31.

The agency said a weather front was passing through the area causing thunderstorms.