The death toll from landslides and floods in the Philippines rose to 12 on Tuesday as more areas were inundated. Regional civil defence chief Blanche Gobenciong said the southern city of Butuan was swamped and thousands of residents of nearby areas fled to evacuation centres. She said it is the worst flooding in ten years and even the areas previously not touched by floods were affected. The official said about 4,400 people in Butuan and nearby areas were evacuated. Rescuers have retrieved the bodies of two gold panners who were caught in a landslide on the outskirts of Butuan. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said ten other people have drowned or been killed by landslides elsewhere since heavy rains began on December 29. It said almost 8,000 people remained in government evacuation centres across the country.