Thousands of Filipinos shovelled muck and debris from flood-ravaged homes, shops and roads under a shining sun today after nearly two weeks of non-stop rain shut down the capital and forced hundreds of thousands to flee from the deluge.

Pounding rain from a tropical storm swelled rivers and sent walls of water crashing into two southern Philippine cities in the thick of night, killing at least 436 people, many caught in their beds, officials said today.

At least 11 people died and more than 400 were evacuated as heavy rains triggered mudslides in the northern and central Philippines, officials said today.