A ship being towed by two tugboats crashed into a flood barrier in the Philippines, causing visible damage to the structure.

The vessel, identified as MV Monalinda 98, struck the flood control gate that helps prevent seawater from Manila Bay from flowing into the rivers of Navotas and Malabon - areas prone to flooding, especially during high tides and storms.

Footage shows the MV Monalinda 98 being pulled by tugboats when it suddenly scrapes the top portion of the Navotas Navigational Floodgate in Navotas City, Metro Manila, on Tuesday, October 7.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Romando Artes said the floodgate remains functional, but engineers are currently inspecting the structure to determine the extent of the damage.

Artes said: 'Based on the initial assessment, the upper part of the navigational gate sustained damage. It's now being lifted to inspect whether the arm mechanism was also affected.'

Authorities said several irregularities were found in the vessel's entry. The permit issued allowed passage between 1 am and 2 am, but the ship reportedly entered at 5:43 am, outside the approved schedule.

Investigators also noted discrepancies in the vessel's declared depth. While its draft was stated to be 5.2ft (1.6 metres), it actually measured 12.8ft (3.9 metres), making it unsafe to pass through the gate.

A technical working group will be established to assess the full extent of the damage and to review the existing navigation and safety guidelines in the area.