This is the shocking moment passengers screamed as three ferries came within inches of crashing into one another.

Dozens of devotees boarded the festive boats that were decorated with colourful bunting for a religious fluvial parade in General Santos City, the Philippines.

Footage captured by Caren Polinar Cabalfin, who was joining the river procession for the first time with her husband, shows worshippers cheering as the vessels' hulls skidded against each other on January 15.

Boat crews could be seen working frantically to push the vessels apart and maintain a safe distance. They had to instruct people gathered on the bow to move back to avoid being struck.

The grinding sound of metal on metal could then be heard before the ships eventually moved away from one another.

The Philippine Coast Guard was on standby throughout the event and responded immediately to the collision.

No injuries were reported, and the parade celebrating the baby Jesus, known locally as the Holy Child Senor Santo Nino continued safely.

Caren said: 'My husband and I decided to join the fluvial parade as we had never experienced it before, and as you can see, there were so many devotees of the Santo Nino.

'At the start of the procession, everything was going well. However, the vessels suddenly began crowding each other, which is actually quite common during these parades. Everyone remained calm, trusting that no one would sink. These collisions have almost become a part of the event.'

The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian nation in Asia, a legacy of three centuries of Spanish rule that has deeply embedded the Catholic faith and belief in miracles into the national culture.

The latest Census of Population and Housing by the Philippine Statistics Authority said that the country is home to over 99 million Christians.