Manila: Soldiers conducted house-to-house searches to force residents to evacuate after deadly landslides hit the Masara Village in southern Philippines, officials aid on Tuesday.

"We're hauling away all the people in this village," said Army Major Roland Rodil. "We're only allowing miners and volunteers to stay."

"This area has been declared a 'no man's land' for everybody's safety," Rodil said.

Landslides killed at least 20 people, injured about two dozen others and destroyed scores of houses in Masara Village in Compostella Valley. At least 19 people were still missing.