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Search continues for survivors after Cebu City landfill disaster
Rescue teams in the central Philippines are working around the clock to locate over 30 workers still unaccounted for following a catastrophic landslide at a Cebu City landfill earlier this week, officials confirmed on Saturday.
Casualties and conditions on the ground
Four fatalities have been confirmed, while 12 injured individuals have been transported to local hospitals, according to Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival. The mayor reported that life signs had been detected in specific areas of the site, prompting cautious optimism among rescue crews.
However, operations remain hazardous due to unstable debris. Emergency responders are awaiting the arrival of a 50-ton crane to facilitate safer excavation efforts, Archival stated in a Facebook update on Saturday morning.
Families await news as time runs short
Relatives of the missing workers have gathered near the site, clinging to hope for positive news. Jerahmey Espinoza, whose husband is among those unaccounted for, told Reuters:
"They haven't seen him or located him ever since the disaster happened. We're still hopeful that he's alive."
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who chairs the city's disaster council, emphasized the urgency of the situation:
"We are just hoping that we can get someone alive... We are racing against time, that's why our deployment is 24/7."
Councilor Dave Tumulak, AFP
Possible causes and landfill background
The exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation, though local officials suspect poor waste management practices may have contributed. Councilor Joel Garganera told The Freeman newspaper that operators had been excavating soil from the landfill's base to mine materials, then piling garbage to create additional waste mounds.
The Binaliw landfill spans approximately 15 hectares (37 acres) and serves as a critical waste disposal site for Cebu City, a major commercial hub in the Visayas region. Landfills are a common waste management solution in densely populated Philippine cities, though safety concerns have been raised in the past.
Rescue challenges and next steps
Emergency teams are navigating treacherous conditions, including shifting debris and potential secondary collapses. The deployment of heavy machinery, such as the 50-ton crane, is expected to improve safety and efficiency as search efforts continue.
Officials have not provided a timeline for the completion of rescue operations but have reiterated their commitment to locating all missing individuals.
