Tourists enjoyed a relaxing hot shower as they flocked to this unusual steaming waterfalls at the foot of an active volcano in the Philippines.

The holidaymakers sat beneath the Bilawa Mainit Waterfalls as it cascaded down craggy boulders in Maco town, Davao de Oro province on November 20.

Vlogger Willy Lacea, who drives two hours just to bathe at the tourist spot, said: 'You can't touch the water right away because it's quite hot. You can use it to make coffee.'

Researchers from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the waters come from a natural hot spring at the base of Mount Leonard Kniaseff, an active volcano straddling two localities in the province.

PHIVOLCS researcher Raymond Maximo said: 'Once groundwater flows over the hot molten rocks, heat transfer occurs, and the water comes out as hot springs.'

The locals basked in the heat, with some frequent visitors believing the water had therapeutic properties.

Nelson Cruz, a regular at the falls, said: 'I've been struggling with asthma for a long time. But when I started bathing here, my condition has started to improve.'

Gerald Belandres, a general medicine physician, said the sulfur in the springs may help heal skin diseases while the warm vapours are believed to clear the lungs.

However, he warned: 'Too much bathing at the falls can be harmful. If you overexpose yourself to sulfur, your skin can dry up. If you ingest the water, you might suffer from gastroenteritis.'