A waterspout tornado swept through riverside homes in Vietnam.

Footage shows the twister swirling across the So Thuong River in Dong Thap Province on August 9, around 5 pm local time.

Local media reported that the strong winds damaged multiple rooftops, sending corrugated metal sheets and household items into the air.

Vessels in the area reduced speed and sought shelter, as rough waters and strong gusts created hazardous navigation conditions.

Terrified locals can also be heard in the background as they watched the freak weather phenomenon unfold.

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.