This is the terrifying moment a freak whirlwind tore the roof off a house in the Philippines.

Shocked residents watched as the powerful gales ripped the rafters and corrugated iron roofing from a home in Polanco town, Zamboanga del Norte province on July 2.

Locals said the weather had been scorching shortly before the twister appeared.

Onlooker Ivan Louis Paloma said: 'When I went outside, I saw something swirling like a tornado, so I took a video. It was the first time I had seen anything like it.'

Dennis Tenorio, chief of the local disaster office, said: 'There were no injuries reported. There was only damage to the roof of the home. It was an isolated incident.'

The Philippines and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are approaching their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.