Water tornado filmed tearing through villages in Taiwan

A 50m water tornado tore through Taiwan on Saturday, frightening residents in Pingtung County.

The waterspout appeared at about 2.40pm during a thunderstorm and travelled 6km along the Gaoping River, lasting for more than 10 minutes.

Residents say they weren’t able to see the top of the waterspout, with many managing to capture the natural phenomenon on their phones.

Damage was limited as it moved through open spaces, but it still managed to upend several houses, uproot trees and cause a power outage in the area.

Local authorities reported over 10 houses had their roofs ripped off.

Taiwan Central Weather Bureau says tornadoes usually appear in the country during the summer, with this tornado a result of atmospheric instability.