Frantic residents struggled to save their belongings during a flash flood in the Philippines.

Footage shows men swimming in muddy floods to search for valuables such as jewellery and appliances in their submerged home in Sultan Kudarat province on July 18.

Family member Michael John Genilla said: ‘It was my cousin’s house and he asked for our help to take some of their belongings that could still be saved.

‘The water rose too fast and many in the village had their homes submerged especially those near the river. We were relieved no one was hurt in our family.’

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.