The death toll from landslides and floods in the Philippines rose to 25 today with those trying to profit from the disaster by salvaging flotsam becoming victims themselves. The regional civil defence chief Blanche Gobenciong said some of the seven dead in and around the southern city of Butuan were trying to salvage floating logs to sell to lumber firms.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, a majority of the dead had drowned with at least five others killed in landslides. The Council said more than 8,000 people displaced by rising floodwaters remain at evacuation centres across the country. Seventy per cent of the country’s southern region are still under flood waters.

Meanwhile, the chief government forecaster Graciano Yumul said there is a risk of further floods and landslides with rains expected to continue for the rest of the week.