Four pupils dead and three others injured when tree crushes tricycle during Tropical Storm Bebinca

Four pupils were killed and three others were injured when a falling tree crushed them during Tropical Storm Bebinca in the Philippines.

The schoolchildren were heading home in a tricycle - a motorcycle and a sidecar commonly used as a mode of public transport in the country - when strong winds blew down a large tree onto their vehicle in Malabang town, Lanao del Sur province, on September 13 afternoon.

Footage shows rescue personnel scrambling to cut the tree's heavy trunk to reach the passengers amid a downpour.

Authorities said the youngsters were rushed to a hospital, but four were declared dead on arrival. Three others including the driver were injured.

The Bangsamoro Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) said the office has provided burial assistance to the families of the deceased.

The Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center on September 13 raised a blue weather alert in the afternoon as Tropical Storm Bebinca churned towards the Philippines.

Bebinca, locally known as Ferdie, killed at least six people after slamming into the central and southern Philippines on September 13.

It left the country on September 14 and hurtled into China, disrupting flights and trains as it hurtled into Shanghai on September 16 morning.

The Philippines and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.