Five killed as heavy rains in Philippines spark landslide

Five people have died in a landslide sparked by four days of heavy rain which flooded several villages in the northern Philippines, an army spokesman said today.

Lt Col Loreto Magundayao said the five victims included four children who were hit by the landslide in a farming village in Isabela province.

He said floodwaters, worsened by the release of water from a dam, have swept away houses and forced villagers to clamber on to the roof of their homes in swamped communities to await rescuers.