This is the terrifying moment a tornado ripped roofs from homes as it tore through a city in Chile.

Locals were battered by the massive wind vortex accompanied by rainfall in Puerto Varas.

Footage captured by resident Marco Antonio shows the whirlwind forming and swirling over the area, with debris and uprooted roofing flying through the air amid loud thunder on May 25.

Marco Antonio said: 'Before the tornado started, there was that typical noise in the sky, thunder where the winds collide, but I didn't imagine that the tornado would form.'

Some witnesses recalled having to hold onto railings to avoid being dragged by the force of the gusts.

The Meteorological Directorate of Chile reported that the tornado was classified as an EF-1 event on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

The tornado's estimated wind speeds ranged between 138 and 178 km/h, causing significant damage across the city, including destroyed rooftops, overturned vehicles, and widespread power outages.

Local media reported that approximately 13,000 residents were left without electricity, 250 homes were damaged, and over 300 individuals were displaced.

There were no reported fatalities from the disaster, but eight individuals sustained injuries.

Local teams are actively supporting recovery efforts by clearing debris and evaluating damage, and soon those impacted will be able to request relief assistance using the FIBE form.

Experts say tornadoes are rare in the region. Meteorologist Gianfranco Marcone called the event 'atypical' for the area, linking it to atmospheric instability and local weather conditions. He warned that climate change could increase the frequency of such events.

On May 30, 2019, a strong EF-2 tornado hit Los Angeles, causing major damage and injuring 16 people. The next day, another tornado struck Talcahuano and Concepcion, killing one, injuring 23, and damaging over 500 homes.