Heavy rain battered Bangkok, Thailand, this afternoon as the country's annual rainy season arrived. Footage shows locals struggling through the tropical downpour, which was accompanied by driving winds in the centre of the Thai capital.

Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are at the start of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which last until November.

Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods which cause rivers to flow faster and become dangerous.

Many of the under-developed nations struggle to cope with the heavy rain due to under-investment infrastructure.