Post by : Meena Ariff

At least 11 people have lost their lives after a major landfill collapse in Cebu City, located in the central Philippines, according to local authorities. The tragic incident occurred last week at the Binaliw landfill, where more than 100 workers were reportedly present at the time of the disaster.

Rescue teams have so far managed to pull 12 injured individuals from beneath the debris. However, officials confirmed that more than 20 people are still missing, raising serious concerns among families waiting anxiously for updates on their loved ones.

Although earlier assessments suggested survival chances were low after several days under tons of waste, rescuers detected signs of life during search operations on Monday. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival stated that authorities remain fully committed to rescue efforts, stressing that operations have not shifted to recovery mode.

The collapse has triggered widespread calls for accountability and reform. Environmental authorities have ordered the landfill’s operator, Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc., to immediately suspend activities at the site. The company has been directed to submit a detailed compliance and corrective plan within 90 days.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has also announced a full investigation into the cause of the collapse, pledging to hold those responsible accountable. Lawmakers have echoed these concerns, urging a nationwide review of waste management systems and the safety conditions faced by landfill workers.

Residents living near the landfill described terrifying scenes during the incident. One local resident, whose wife was working at the site, recalled hearing what he described as a sudden “explosion” of garbage, followed by panic as workers tried to escape. His wife’s body was recovered the following day.

The Binaliw landfill covers around 20 hectares of land, with approximately three hectares actively used for waste disposal. While the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation, preliminary findings suggest that weeks of continuous rainfall increased the weight and instability of the waste, combined with possible engineering issues.

Landfills remain a common waste disposal method in major Philippine cities like Cebu, a key economic and transport hub in the Visayas region. The tragedy has renewed debate over long-standing safety risks and the urgent need for stronger regulations to prevent similar disasters in the future.

#Asia News