Residents were forced to wade through a raging river while holding onto a rope to evacuate during the onslaught of Typhoon Wipha.

Footage shows locals, including volunteer teachers from remote villages, gripping the lifeline as they fled to safety in Western Samar, the Philippines.

The group had been stranded in a village that was cut off when the river overflowed and the surrounding roads were submerged.

Soldiers joined the rescue efforts and successfully evacuated the teachers to temporary shelters.

Teacher Zaira Fe Bogayan said: ‘This happened during Typhoon Wipha. We had no choice but to cross the river to evacuate, but the water was too deep and the current too strong.

‘We were grateful for the soldiers who came to help us. This is one of the sacrifices we make as teachers in the mountains. Salute to everyone.'

The soldiers, who were stationed at a nearby camp, used their hammock ropes to create a makeshift lifeline across the torrent.

Everyone was safely guided across to the other side.

The deluge came as Typhoon Wipha battered the country, bringing heavy rainfall and flash floods. The storm also triggered deluges in Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

At least seven people were killed and more than 60,000 displaced in the Philippines alone.