No fewer than seven persons have been killed in a landslide that shook a house in the southern Philippines.

The Monkayo municipal disaster officer, Rocris Idul, said on Friday death toll in the incident which occurred on Thursday, is anticipated to grow.

The tragedy occurred in a hilly gold mining district of Davao de Oro province on Mindanao island, where heavy rain has caused flooding and landslides this week, AFP reports.

Idul said a family of eight, including six children, had left their evacuation centre and returned home for a prayer meeting with other villagers.

Rescuers recovered seven dead from the mud, including those of children. Idul reported that another four people were still missing.

Theres a very slim chance they can survive, Idul added, pointing to the massive amount of mud that had buried the house.

Idul reported that three persons were rescued alive, one of them was critically hurt.

Monkayo Mayor Manuel Zamora issued a warning on Wednesday to residents residing in high risk parts of the municipality to abandon their houses, according to his chief of staff, Rodielyn Manugas.

Schools in the municipality were told to postpone school on Friday, with further heavy rain anticipated in the area. (Daily Trust)