Dozens of individuals are feared to have been trapped under debris following a collapse at a landfill site in central Philippines. A rescue operation is currently in progress at the Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City where approximately 50 sanitation workers were affected by the incident. Emergency services managed to rescue 13 individuals and are actively searching for others who are still missing.
Among those affected were landfill workers, although it remains uncertain if there were any nearby residents involved. Tragically, one female worker passed away while being transported to a hospital, while the rest sustained injuries and were hospitalized. An eyewitness described the sudden collapse of the garbage mountain without warning, causing destruction and injuries.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing for the 38 individuals who are still unaccounted for, according to Cebu Mayor Nestor Archival and the Office of Civil Defence. Authorities are ensuring full engagement in the search operations while maintaining safety protocols. The city government has assured the public and affected families of their commitment to safety, transparency, and providing assistance during the operation.
Images shared by authorities depicted rescuers using heavy machinery to sift through the wreckage of a building hit by the debris. Concerned relatives anxiously awaited updates as the search continued. The waste management facility, with 110 employees, is set to convene an emergency meeting as investigations into the incident progress.
Landfills and dumpsites have posed safety and health risks in many Philippine cities, particularly in areas near impoverished communities where residents scavenge for resources. The country has a history of landfill accidents, with a previous disaster in 2000 resulting in fatalities and the enactment of laws to improve waste management practices.
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