Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
Landslide at Sanitary Landfill Causes Accident in Cebu, Leaves Missing in the Philippines and Mobilizes Rescue Teams 24 Hours.
A landslide at a sanitary landfill left dozens missing in the Philippines following a serious accident in Cebu, in the central region of the country, earlier this week.
The collapse occurred at the Binaliw landfill while workers were on site, burying people and equipment.
Since then, rescue teams have maintained an uninterrupted operation, day and night, amid elevated risks of further collapses, in an effort to locate survivors and recover victims.
-
Elevator Plummets From Tenth Floor in Commercial Building in Recife, Raising Concerns About Safety and Engineering of Vertical Transport Systems Used Daily in Urban Buildings
-
Cyclist Hit by Car in Sobradinho, DF Is Rescued After Traffic Accident This Sunday
-
Civil Defense Issues Alert and Advises Evacuation in 51 Streets of Juiz de Fora After Risk of Instability; See the Complete List of Affected Neighborhoods
-
Military Plane With Money Crashes In Bolivia, Leaves 20 Dead And Leads Central Bank To Annul 10, 20, And 50 Bolivianos Notes After Chaos At Airport
Authorities confirmed that the accident in Cebu mobilized emergency resources from different municipal agencies.
According to Mayor Nestor Archival, signs of life were detected two days after the collapse, which renewed hope for families.
So far, four deaths have been confirmed and at least 12 people have received medical attention, while dozens remain among the missing in the Philippines.
Race Against Time Mobilizes Rescue Teams in Cebu
Since the early hours after the landslide, rescue teams have faced a race against time.
The instability of the terrain and the buildup of waste make access to deeper areas difficult. Furthermore, there is a constant risk of new landslides, which requires strict safety protocols.
In a social media post, the mayor emphasized the necessary caution.
“Authorities confirmed the presence of signs of life in specific areas, which requires the continuation of careful excavations and the use of a more advanced 50-ton crane,” Archival stated.
According to him, each step is carefully planned to reduce additional risks.
Binaliw Sanitary Landfill and the Moment of Collapse
The Binaliw landfill is a private area of about 15 hectares.
According to official information, the landslide occurred on Thursday, while approximately 110 workers were on site.
Authorities estimate that more than 30 employees are among the missing in the Philippines, all linked to the landfill’s activities.
Witnesses reported that the collapse was sudden.
In a matter of minutes, large volumes of earth and waste slid down, burying machines and people.
Since then, the site has turned into a scene of destruction, demanding maximum attention from the rescue teams.
Families Await News After the Accident in Cebu
As the search progresses gradually, relatives experience moments of anguish.
Many remain nearby the landfill, waiting for any official updates. Still, the hope of finding survivors keeps relatives mobilized.
Jerahrmey Espinoza, whose husband is among the missing, told Reuters: “They haven’t seen or located him since the disaster happened.
We still hope that he is alive.” The statement summarizes the feelings of dozens of families affected by the accident in Cebu.
Possible Failures in Waste Management Are Being Analyzed
Although the official cause of the landslide has yet to be confirmed, local authorities are raising preliminary hypotheses.
Cebu City Councilman Joel Garganera stated that the accident in Cebu may be related to inadequate waste management practices.
According to him, operators had been excavating the mountain, removing soil and then piling waste to create new elevations.
This method may have compromised the stability of the terrain over time, increasing the risk of collapse at the landfill.
Urban Context Increases Accident Risks in the Philippines
Densely populated Filipino cities, such as Cebu, heavily rely on sanitary landfills to manage the large volume of waste.
Rapid urban growth, coupled with limited oversight, raises the likelihood of tragedies like this one.
Experts warn that the landslide reignites the debate on urban planning, environmental safety, and solid waste public policies in the Philippines.
The combination of these factors demands a review of practices and investments in prevention.
Operation Continues 24 Hours in Search of Survivors
According to Councilman Dave Tumulak, chairman of the city disaster council, rescue teams are working without interruption.
“We only hope to rescue someone alive. We are in a race against time, which is why our operation runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he told AFP.
Meanwhile, authorities inform that new updates will be released as the search progresses.
The landslide at the Binaliw sanitary landfill is already considered one of the most serious recent episodes involving missing persons in the Philippines, leaving a profound human impact and reinforcing the urgency for preventive measures.
-
Uma pessoa reagiu a isso.