This is the terrifying moment a tornado tore through dozens of homes in central Thailand.

Footage shows the twister whirling across the street near houses amid heavy rain in Samut Prakan, in the outskirts of Bangkok, at around 9:30 pm on October 6.

Village council leader Chaiporn Klinkla said more than 20 houses were damaged as the storm blew away roofs and toppled trees.

The Ban Khlong Suan Subdistrict Authority Organisation said affected residents were temporarily evacuated as several homes were in danger of collapsing.

Housewife Monthatip Onjorn, 57, said the tornado struck while her family was having dinner.

She said: 'I heard the wind howling outside so I told my son to close the door to keep the rain from coming in. He was battling the strong winds when we heard a loud noise upstairs. We found that the ceiling had collapsed.

'We all waited out the storm in our bedroom. When it finally died down, we went outside and found our kitchen and storage room in ruins. There was broken glass and debris everywhere.'

Pinit Termboon, chief executive of the Ban Khlong Suan Subdistrict Authority Organisation, said disaster mitigation staff were surveying the damage. He added that affected residents will be given financial assistance.

A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, often appearing as a funnel-shaped cloud. Tornadoes can cause significant damage due to their intense winds, which can reach speeds over 300 mph, making them one of the most destructive weather phenomena.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are at the start of their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms. The rudimentary infrastructure often struggles with the deluge, leading to widespread flash floods.