This is the terrifying moment a tornado swirls over villages in Indonesia.

Footage shows the vortex forming just above Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, on Tuesday afternoon, September 16.

Locals said that cloudy skies first covered the area in Uenuni Village, Palolo District. Moments later, a swirling column of air formed and rapidly intensified.

One witness said: 'The wind was descending. We were so scared to see it.'

The freak weather reportedly lasted around 10 minutes and was accompanied by heavy rain.

The Head of the Central Sulawesi Regional Disaster Management Agency, Akris Fattah Yunus, said that 11 houses were damaged in the incident, most suffering roof damage.

Akris added: 'The wind was blowing so hard that it caused the roofs of people's houses to lift off and fly away. We have recorded the damaged buildings to provide further 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.