Landfill collapse in central Philippines kills one, dozens missing

Cebu, Philippines (Journos News) – A massive mound of garbage and debris collapsed at a landfill in Cebu City in the central Philippines, killing one person, injuring several others, and leaving dozens missing, authorities said Friday. Rescue teams worked through the night using heavy equipment and manual searches as families waited nearby for news.

The incident occurred Thursday afternoon at a waste management facility in the village of Binaliw, when a wall of compacted garbage, soil and debris gave way without warning, according to police and local officials. The collapse buried or trapped workers inside low-lying buildings at the site, officials said.

Category: Conflict and Crisis
Subcategory: Disaster and Emergency
Regional Context Tag: Asia-Pacific

Search and rescue operations continue

Emergency responders recovered 13 people alive overnight, while search and retrieval efforts continued Friday for 38 others believed to be trapped beneath the debris, the Cebu city government and the Office of Civil Defense said. The facility employs about 110 workers, but officials said it remained unclear how many were in the affected area at the time of the collapse.

Regional police director Brig. Gen. Roderick Maranan told The Associated Press that one of those rescued, a female landfill worker, died while being transported to a hospital. At least a dozen others were injured and were receiving medical treatment.

“All response teams remain fully engaged in search and retrieval efforts to locate the remaining missing persons, with strict adherence to safety protocols,” Cebu Mayor Nestor Archival said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Authorities deployed earth-moving equipment alongside hand tools to avoid further destabilizing the debris pile. Officials said operations were being carried out cautiously due to the risk of additional slides.

Workers describe sudden collapse

Survivors described a rapid and unexpected collapse during normal working conditions. Jaylord Antigua, a 31-year-old office worker at the landfill, said there were no warning signs before the garbage mound gave way.

“It happened so fast,” Antigua told the AP. He said the avalanche destroyed his office, trapping him under debris. Bruised on his face and arms, he managed to escape by crawling toward a small opening. “I saw a light and crawled toward it in a hurry because I feared there would be more landslides,” he said, calling the experience traumatic and saying he felt he had been given “a second life.”

Officials said weather conditions were normal at the time of the collapse, adding to concerns about structural stability and safety practices at the site.

Damage to buildings and uncertainty over nearby areas

Police said one of the structures hit by the slide was a warehouse where workers sorted recyclable materials from general waste. Images released by authorities showed twisted tin roofs, bent steel beams, and debris piled several meters high around damaged buildings.

It was not immediately clear whether nearby residential structures were affected. Officials said they were still verifying reports from the surrounding area and accounting for all personnel who may have been working or present near the landfill.

Relatives of missing workers gathered near the site, some visibly distraught as rescue efforts continued. Video footage released by local authorities showed family members pleading with responders to speed up the search.

Longstanding safety concerns over landfills

The disaster has renewed attention on longstanding safety and health concerns linked to landfills and open dumpsites across the Philippines. Such sites are often located near densely populated or low-income communities, where residents sometimes scavenge for recyclable materials or food scraps.

In July 2000, a garbage mound collapsed at a dumpsite in a shantytown in Quezon City, near metropolitan Manila, after days of heavy rain. The disaster killed more than 200 people, left many others missing, and destroyed large sections of the community. The tragedy led to the passage of legislation mandating the closure of illegal dumpsites and calling for improved waste management systems nationwide.

Despite those reforms, environmental groups and local officials have repeatedly warned that overcrowded or poorly managed facilities remain vulnerable to accidents, particularly as urban waste volumes continue to rise.

Authorities pledge accountability and review

Mayor Archival said the city government would convene an emergency meeting with landfill operators and relevant agencies to review safety protocols and determine the cause of the collapse. Officials at the waste management facility were expected to participate.

“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,” Archival said.

As of Friday evening, rescue operations remained ongoing, with authorities saying efforts would continue around the clock until all missing individuals were accounted for.