Firefighters evacuated residents as Tropical Storm Trami triggered floods in the Philippines.

Footage shows villagers riding a rubber raft across the deluge in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental province, on October 21.

Authorities said at least 281 people in the city were rescued amid heavy rains. In-person classes were also suspended until Wednesday.

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez said: 'The safety and welfare of the students in Bacolod City is of utmost importance, as such there is a need to declare the suspension of classes.'

Philippine weather agency PAGASA said Trami, locally known as 'Kristine', intensified into a tropical storm on Tuesday, October 22.

The storm may make landfall as a severe tropical storm over Isabela province by October 23 evening, and is expected to exit the Philippine monitoring zone by Friday evening, October 25.

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