Stranded residents had to swim through flooded roads after heavy rain battered the Philippines.

Zild Diaz recorded his neighbors battling through the muddy deluge in the town of Paknaan in Mandaue City, Cebu, on October 4.

He said the nearby river overflowed and they did not evacuate the area because they were worried about leaving their possessions behind. So they stayed and waited for the flood to subside.

He said: "This is my first time experiencing a severe flood. It almost came up to the height of our heads. It was very scary, especially with the children living in the area."

Officials said around 500 homes were flooded. The displaced residents also complained of the foul smell of the water that came from the river.
In other villages, the flood level reached up to five foot so families were evacuated to nearby schools.

The Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Thailand and Malaysia are at the peak of the annual rainy season, which sees regular tropical storms.