Death Toll Rises to Four in Philippines Landfill Collapse

Ongoing Search and Rescue Operation

The death toll from the collapse of a landfill in central Philippines has risen to four, according to an official, while rescue efforts continue for dozens of people who remain missing. The landfill in Binaliw, located in Cebu City, collapsed on Thursday, with 110 workers present on site at the time. Several structures and facilities within the landfill were damaged during the collapse.

Cebu Mayor Nestor Archival announced in a Facebook post on Saturday that the death count has increased to four, and an additional 12 people have been taken to hospitals. As of a Friday report, 36 individuals were still reported missing, but no immediate update on the number of missing persons has been provided.

Families of the missing workers remained hopeful on Saturday, clinging to the hope that their loved ones would be found alive. Jerahmey Espinoza, whose husband is among the missing, visited the landfill in hopes of finding him. “He hasn’t been seen or found since the disaster occurred. We are still hoping that he is alive,” Espinoza stated.

A large number of rescuers, including police officers, firefighters, and disaster response personnel, have been working against the clock to locate more survivors in dangerous conditions, among twisted roofs, rebar, and tons of waste. “Authorities have confirmed signs of life detected in certain areas, which necessitates careful excavation and the deployment of a 50-ton advanced crane, which is en route with police escort,” Mayor Nestor Archival reported.

“The safety of responders remains a priority due to risks such as unstable debris and acetylene hazards, leading to adjustments of the security perimeter and controlled access,” Archival added. The four deceased, including an engineer and a staff member, were all employees of the landfill and waste management facility, which has a workforce of 110 people, according to the mayor and police. The cause of the landfill collapse remains unclear, but a survivor told the Associated Press on Friday that everything happened suddenly, without warning, despite the favorable weather at the time.