Emergency crews in the central Philippine city of Cebu are engaged in a critical round-the-clock operation to locate more than 30 missing individuals following a catastrophic landfill collapse. The disaster struck the privately-operated Binaliw landfill on Thursday while approximately 110 workers were present at the site.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed Saturday that rescue teams have detected promising signs of life beneath the massive debris field, though unstable conditions continue to hamper recovery efforts. The confirmed death toll stands at four persons, with twelve others having been transported to medical facilities for treatment.
Authorities face significant operational challenges due to precarious debris formations that pose ongoing safety risks. Rescue coordination officials emphasize they are awaiting the deployment of specialized heavy equipment, including a 50-ton crane, to facilitate careful excavation of identified survival zones.
Families of missing workers maintain vigil at the disaster perimeter, clinging to hope despite the elapsed time since the incident. Jerahmey Espinoza, whose husband remains among the missing, conveyed to Reuters: “They haven’t seen him or located him ever since the disaster happened. We’re still hopeful that he’s alive.”
Preliminary investigations suggest the collapse may stem from problematic waste management practices. City councillor Joel Garganera indicated operators had been excavating soil from the mountainside while simultaneously accumulating waste into artificial peaks, potentially compromising structural integrity.
The 15-hectare facility serves as a critical waste management hub for Cebu, the central trading and transportation nexus of the Visayas island chain. Such landfill sites remain commonplace across major Philippine urban centers, raising ongoing concerns about infrastructure safety and regulatory oversight in waste management systems.