Footage shows strong wind and rain battering the island of Phuket in southern Thailand today as Typhoon Chaba sweeps through the region.

The Thai Meteorological Department warned that the storm would hit southern regions in the Andaman Sea before moving further north. Waves were up to three metres high causing flooding on coastal roads as thunderstorms battered the island.

Chinese forecasters said Typhoon Chaba had weakened into a tropical storm by Monday, July 4. However, heavy rain is expected as the storm moves across the central and eastern parts of the country in the coming days.

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 lasts until late 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.