Homes and properties were damaged when flash floods swept through a town after several days of heavy rain.<br /><br />Alicia Mae Pillo was with her family in South Cotabato, the Philippines when the flood water rose within minutes on Wednesday (August 19).<br /><br />The worried daughter said they left their valuables to seek higher ground when the flood came because they have elderly relatives in the house.<br /><br />She said: "I saw my mother crying because some of our appliances were damaged when we left."<br /><br />All of their furniture were submerged in the water that reached up to knee-deep depending on the house's location.<br /><br />Some of the houses in low-lying areas near the river were badly affected so the local officials had prepared temporary shelters for them to stay until the weather condition is better.<br /><br />However, Alicia said that the evacuation is being implemented on a voluntary basis for now because there is no typhoon.<br /><br />A huge part of the country experienced heavy rains this week due to the southwest monsoon.<br /><br />Southeast Asia is currently going through its annual rainy season lasting from May until October.
