Cebu Landfill Disaster: Rescuers Detect Signs of Life as Dozens Remain Missing

A large-scale rescue operation is underway in Cebu City after a towering mound of waste collapsed at the Binaliw Landfill, burying dozens of workers and damaging several on‑site structures. Authorities say the collapse occurred on Thursday, sending an avalanche of garbage—estimated by officials to have fallen from a height comparable to a 20‑storey building—onto staff houses, work areas, and nearby facilities.

Casualties and Missing Persons

Local officials have confirmed multiple fatalities, with the death toll reported at four to six, depending on the latest updates from various agencies. Between 32 and 36 individuals remain missing, many of them landfill workers who were inside staff quarters or operating machinery when the garbage mound gave way.

At least 12 workers have been rescued alive and are receiving hospital treatment for injuries sustained during the collapse.

Rescue Efforts and Signs of Life

Rescue teams—comprising firefighters, police, local government responders, and volunteers—have been working continuously despite unstable ground conditions. Authorities report that the landfill continues to shift, forcing crews to pause operations periodically for safety.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed that rescuers have detected “signs of life in specific areas, prompting the deployment of heavier equipment, including a 50‑ton crane, to carefully excavate debris without triggering further collapses.

More than 300 responders are now involved in the operation, using excavators, hydraulic cranes, and cutting tools to navigate through steel trusses, compacted waste, and unstable soil layers.

Hazards and Structural Concerns

Officials and workers have long raised concerns about the landfill’s safety. Cebu City councillor Joel Garganera described the garbage pile as “alarming” in height and warned that the soft, water‑absorbing waste behaves like a sponge, making it prone to sudden movement—especially after rainfall.

He also noted that operators had been reshaping and mining the garbage mound over time, creating conditions similar to an open dumpsite rather than a sanitary landfill, increasing the risk of collapse.

Toxic air, unstable steel beams, and the constant shifting of debris continue to pose dangers to both trapped individuals and rescuers on the ground.

Families Waiting for News

Families of the missing have gathered near the site, many holding onto hope that their loved ones will be found alive. Some workers who survived described the collapse as sudden and without warning, recounting loud crashes and screams as the garbage surged downward.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the collapse. Investigations are underway, with officials examining operational practices, structural stability, and compliance with waste‑management regulations.

The Binaliw Landfill processes around 1,000 tons of municipal waste daily and is the primary disposal site for Cebu City and surrounding communities.