Trapped worshippers were rescued as waist-deep flood surged into a church during heavy rain in the Philippines.

Footage shows rescue volunteers helping the villagers trudge through the deluge in the Bulabog neighbourhood of Sorsogon City in Sorsogon province on December 1. The locals held their bags and shoes above the water, while some carried small children across the flood.

A resident, Sarah Joy Grajo, said the churchgoers were holding a celebration when torrential rains struck the area. She added that the flood gradually receded in the evening.

Philippine weather agency PAGASA said the downpour was caused by a shear line - the area where cold air from the northeast monsoon meats warm winds from the Pacific Ocean - where thunderstorms often form.

The floods come several weeks after the Philippines was battered by six storms within a month.

The country experiences frequent and intense storms especially during the typhoon season from June to November, due to its location in the Pacific typhoon belt. These storms often bring heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding that cause significant damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and communities.