This is the terrifying moment a violent dust devil ripped through a sports field while children were playing baseball.<br /> <br />The teams ran for cover when the swirling vortex of red dust formed in the field in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, on September 6.<br /> <br />Game referee Li Wang Han said the children were herded into a safe spot to wait for the dust storm to dissipate.<br /> <br />He said: "I shouted at the boys who were in the field to avoid the dust and run towards us.<br /> <br />"We were worried that the players might get hurt if they were touched by the tornado. Fortunately, everyone was safe."<br /> <br />The youngsters were amazed after seeing the weather phenomenon for the first time and the game continued after the dust storm had passed.<br /> <br />Dust devils are rotating masses of air which are relatively short-lived whirlwinds. They are usually harmless, but occasionally can cause some damage to both people and property.<br /> <br />They are formed when the hot sun heats the ground and the warmer air above it starts to rise, creating an area of low pressure below. <br /> <br />Cooler air rushes to fill the low pressure, which then then heats up, circulates like a whirlwind and picks up dried dirt from the surface as the air while it warms and rises quickly. They dissipate when all the air becomes cooler and the pressure equalises.
