MANILA, Philippines — Rescuers are intensifying efforts at a central Philippines landfill after detecting signs of life amid the wreckage of a massive garbage avalanche that has already claimed at least four lives and left over 30 workers missing as of Saturday, authorities said.
Landfill Collapse Traps Dozens in Philippines
A desperate search is underway for survivors buried under tons of waste in Cebu City.
- At least four workers have died and more than 30 remain missing after a landslide at a landfill in Cebu City, Philippines.
- Rescuers detected signs of life Saturday, prompting a shift to more careful excavation.
- The cause of the collapse is under investigation, but a survivor reported no warning signs.
- Landfill safety and waste management are longstanding concerns in the Philippines.
Twelve workers have been pulled from the debris with injuries following Thursday’s collapse at the waste management facility in the village of Binaliw, according to local authorities. Dozens of emergency responders – including police, firefighters, and disaster personnel – are working against the clock in hazardous conditions, navigating twisted metal, unstable debris, and combustible garbage.
What’s the current situation at the Philippines landfill? Rescuers have detected signs of life within the rubble and are proceeding with caution, deploying a 50-ton crane to aid in the excavation, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival stated Saturday.
“Authorities confirmed the presence of detected signs of life in specific areas, requiring continued careful excavation and the deployment of a more advanced 50-ton crane, which is enroute with police escort,” Archival said in a statement. “Safety of responders remains paramount due to hazards such as unstable debris and acetylene risks, prompting adjustments to the security perimeter and controlled access.”
The four confirmed fatalities included an engineer and a female office worker, all employees of the landfill, which employs a staff of 110, according to the mayor and police. The initial reports on Friday indicated two deaths and 36 missing, but the death toll rose to four by Saturday, though an updated count of those still missing was not immediately available.
The cause of the garbage slide remains unknown. Jaylord Antigua, a 31-year-old landfill office worker, told reporters Friday that the collapse occurred suddenly despite fair weather. He described escaping the destroyed administrative office by crawling through darkness, sustaining bruises in the process.
“I saw a light and crawled toward it in a hurry, because I feared there will be more landslides,” Antigua said. “It was traumatic. I feared that it was my end, so this is my second life.”
Archival stated that preparations are underway to address potential disruptions to garbage collection, but provided no further details. Landfills and open dumpsites have long presented safety and health risks across the Philippines, particularly in communities where residents scavenge for recyclable materials and food waste.
A similar disaster struck in July 2000, when a massive garbage mound in Quezon City, part of metropolitan Manila, collapsed and ignited, resulting in over 200 deaths and numerous missing persons. That tragedy led to legislation mandating the closure of illegal dumpsites and improvements to waste management practices nationwide.
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