Cotabato City, Philippines - Five people were killed when flashfloods swamped several villages in the southern Philippines, a police report said Tuesday.

The report said the flooding occurred late Monday in Kabacan town in North Cotabato province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

It was triggered by overnight heavy rains which caused the Kabacan River to breach its banks and sweep away several houses.

Hundreds of people were forced to seek shelter in higher ground. (dpa)