Mobile showers have been deployed amid a heat wave and water shortage in the Philippines.

State authorities dispatched two roving shower and toilet units under the program 'Libreng Shower Ngayong Tag-init' (Free Showers this Summer) to help residents cool off in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, on April 30.

The units cost a total of 12.7 million PHP (176,519 GBP) and are equipped with four shower cubicles, four toilet bowls, a handwashing area, and a rack for folding clothes.

The vehicles were added to the Valenzuela City disaster response fleet and will also be dispatched during emergencies.

Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian said: 'These two mobile showers will make rounds in our communities, starting in Barangay Parada. It's a free shower, free toilet... they will rotate because some communities experience power interruptions, and residents can't bathe due to the lack of electricity in their homes.

'Through these mobile showers, we will deploy them daily... to avoid illnesses from the heat wave we are currently experiencing.'

Philippine weather agency PAGASA said the country was enduring blistering temperatures as the heat index or the temperature felt when relative humidity is accounted for reached between 45 to 54.8 degrees Celsius.

A similar heatwave has been felt in neighbouring Thailand, with temperatures in Bangkok reaching 41 degrees Celsius.