This is the terrifying moment children fled in panic as a sudden dust devil tornado tore across the field where they were playing in Indonesia.

Footage captured the youngsters screaming and running from a soccer area as the twister passed through tents in Serang Regency, Banten, on September 16.

One of the children was still seen clutching a ball as he ran to the side for safety.

Authorities confirmed the freak weather event damaged a mosque and at least 14 homes in the village.

Petir Police Chief, AKP Priyanto, said: 'At around 2:30 pm local time, a tornado occurred. According to several local witnesses, the tornado struck twice.'

'There were no fatalities from this incident. Material losses are estimated at around 50 million IDR (approximately 2,219 GBP).'

Dust devil tornadoes are types of whirlwinds that form when the sun heats a patch of land, and the air above becomes warmer and rises quickly.

Cooler air then moves into the low-pressure gap left by the rising warm air. The new drafts of cooler air also heat up and rise, and the cycle continues, picking up dust and debris and making the spiral visible.

They are not as dangerous as supercell tornadoes, which can cause severe damage.

(1 IDR = 0.000044 GBP)