This is the dramatic moment villagers crossed a surging flood using a lifeline as Tropical Storm Nalgae battered the Philippines leaving at least 31 dead.

The residents fled from their homes when the water began rising in Kalamansig town, Sultan Kudarat province on October 28.

Local police assisted the stranded locals as they fled the deluge.

State weather bureau PAGASA said the trough of the storm is affecting the country's central and southern regions.

Naguib Sinarimbo, interior minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said at least 31 people have died in Maguindanao province in southern Philippines as of Friday, October 28.

Nalgae, known locally as 'Paeng', intensified into a tropical storm on Thursday, and has been dumping heavy rain across the country's southern and central regions ahead of a possible landfall on the weekend.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 4,975 individuals were evacuated as severe flooding reached roof height in some areas.