This is the terrifying moment a powerful waterspout tornado damaged homes in Indonesia.

The whirlwind destroyed seven salt warehouse buildings in Pamekasan Regency, East Java, on January 28.

Footage shows the massive water vortex swirling in the air above the sea surface.

The weather phenomenon was spotted rotating close to a settlement nearby.

Inspector Riawanto, Head of the Pademawu Police Sector, said: 'The phenomenon occurred for about 5 minutes in the afternoon and damaged several buildings.'

Police reported that no one sustained any injuries in the disaster.

Disaster Analyst at the Pamekasan Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency, Budi Cahyono, said that bad weather is expected to occur until early February.

'There is potential for rain accompanied by strong winds in several areas. We urge the public to be more vigilant. Bad weather is still potential to occur in this area for the next week,' he added.

Two types of tornado form at sea - tornadic waterspouts and fair-weather waterspouts. Tornadic waterspouts form from thunderstorms, just like land tornadoes, while fair-weather waterspouts are typically smaller and less powerful without the need for storms.

Both types of waterspout tornadoes are created when there is a strong difference in air pressure between the surface of the water and the air above it. This difference in pressure creates an updraft, which draws air from the surface of the water into the atmosphere. As the air rises, it cools and condenses, forming a cloud. The cloud can then rotate, forming a waterspout.

It is rare for waterspouts to cause severe damage. However, in August 2023 two tourists were killed and six injured when a waterspout tornado hit their boat on an estuary river in Phetchaburi, southern Thailand.