A shop sign toppled over after being battered by a thunderstorm in the Philippines.

Heavy rains and strong winds pounded on the 20ft-high structure before it dropped to the ground in South Cotabato province, on June 1.

No one was reported hurt as workers were inside the building during the severe weather, while the signage fell on the empty store front parking space.

Onlooker Mark Cordero said: ‘There were riders who stopped by because the wind was so strong. Fortunately, no one parked in front of the shop and went to our side instead. It was very dangerous to have old signages like that unmaintained during storms.'

The Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Thailand are in the middle of 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.