Post by : Meena Ariff

The death toll from a devastating landfill collapse in the central Philippines has climbed to four, while rescue teams continue searching for dozens of missing workers amid dangerous conditions.

The incident occurred on Thursday at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City, where a huge mound of garbage suddenly gave way. At the time of the collapse, around 110 workers were present at the waste management facility. Several buildings and operational structures inside the landfill were crushed under tons of rubbish.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed on Saturday that four workers had died and at least 12 others were injured and taken to nearby hospitals. As of the latest official count, 36 people remained unaccounted for, though authorities said updated figures were still being verified.

Families of the missing workers gathered near the site, clinging to hope that their loved ones would be found alive. One woman searching for her husband said she had received no information since the disaster but refused to give up hope.

Rescue operations have been challenging due to unstable debris, twisted metal, and highly combustible waste materials. Teams from the police, fire department, and disaster response units are working carefully through the wreckage. Officials said signs of life had been detected in certain areas, prompting the deployment of a heavy 50-ton crane under police escort to assist in the search.

Authorities have tightened safety measures around the site, citing serious risks to rescuers, including unstable garbage heaps and hazardous gases. Access to the area has been strictly controlled to prevent further accidents.

The victims, including an engineer and a female office employee, were confirmed to be staff members of the landfill facility. Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the massive garbage pile to collapse. A survivor earlier stated that the incident happened suddenly, without warning, despite normal weather conditions at the time.

Rescue teams continue to work against the clock as hopes remain that more survivors may still be pulled from the debris.