At least one person has been confirmed dead while dozens were trapped after a massive mound of garbage collapsed at a landfill site in the Philippines, authorities said on Friday.
The incident happened on Thursday afternoon at a landfill in the village of Binaliw, Cebu City, where a mountain of garbage, soil and debris suddenly gave way and buried low-lying buildings used by workers.
Officials said one person died, 12 others were injured and 38 people remain missing as rescue operations continue.
Regional police director, Brigadier General Roderick Maranan, said 13 people were pulled out alive during overnight rescue efforts.
“One of the rescued victims, a female landfill worker, later died while being taken to the hospital,” Maranan told The Associated Press. “The others survived with injuries and are receiving medical care.”
According to authorities, landfill workers were among those affected, although it was not immediately clear whether nearby residents were also caught in the collapse.
A survivor, Jaylord Antigua, a 31-year-old office worker at the landfill, said the incident happened suddenly and without warning.
“The avalanche of garbage happened very fast. There was no rain and no sign it would collapse,” Antigua said.
He explained that his office was destroyed by the rubbish slide, but he managed to escape by crawling through debris.
“I saw a light and crawled toward it in a hurry because I feared there would be more landslides,” he said. “It was traumatic. I feared that it was my end, so this is my second life.”
Cebu City Mayor, Nestor Archival, said search and rescue teams were still working to locate the missing persons.
“All response teams remain fully engaged in search and retrieval efforts to locate the remaining missing persons with strict adherence to safety protocols,” Archival said in a statement.
He added that the city government was committed to supporting affected families.
“The city government assures the public and the families of those affected that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure safety, transparency, accountability and compassionate assistance,” he said.
Images released by authorities showed rescue workers using heavy equipment to search through crushed buildings with twisted metal roofs and beams.
Relatives of missing workers were seen waiting anxiously at the site, with some pleading for faster rescue efforts.
Officials said the landfill facility employs about 110 workers, and an emergency meeting was scheduled to review safety conditions at the site.
One of the buildings hit by the garbage slide was reportedly a warehouse where workers sort recyclable materials. Authorities said it was still unclear whether nearby homes were affected.
Landfills and open dumpsites have remained a major safety concern in the Philippines, especially in areas close to poor communities where residents often scavenge for recyclable items.
In July 2000, a similar disaster occurred in Quezon City near Manila when a large garbage dump collapsed, killing more than 200 people and leaving many others missing. The tragedy later led to new laws on waste management and the closure of illegal dumpsites.
