Flash floods destroyed crops and stranded residents after heavy rain in the Philippines.

Footage shows locals struggling to cross the paddy fields submerged in knee-deep muddy water in Lambayong town, Sultan Kudarat province on July 12.

Resident Jan Mateo said: ‘It’s unfortunate that the crops we were supposed to harvest were damaged by the flood. When we woke up the next day, the river overflowed due to heavy rain.’

Locals were able to return home safely when the water receded after almost an hour but the rice crops could not be saved.

The Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are on their tropical monsoon rainy season, which lasts until October or November. Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods.