NewsLandfill collapse kills one and leaves dozens missing in PhilippinesRescuers retrieve eight people alive and are searching for more missing in Binaliw, Cebu city.

Incident Report: Waste Facility Collapse in Cebu City

A structural collapse at a waste segregation facility in Binaliw, Cebu City has resulted in one fatality and seven injuries, with at least 27 individuals reported missing. Rescuers have successfully retrieved eight individuals alive and continue their search and rescue operations for those still unaccounted for.

The collapse occurred at a landfill site where a significant mound of rubbish and debris fell, affecting workers on-site. Police and city officials provided differing accounts of the numbers involved, with Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival stating that 12 people have been rescued and 38 remain missing.

Mayor Archival emphasized that all response teams are fully engaged in search and retrieval efforts, maintaining strict adherence to safety protocols. The city government has assured the public that all necessary measures are being implemented to ensure safety, transparency, and accountability.

An emergency meeting involving authorities and officials of the waste management facility, which employs 110 people, was scheduled to address the situation.

The landfill, operated by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, processes approximately 1,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily. The collapse affected multiple structures housing company offices and staff facilities.

Efforts to gather information are ongoing, with communication challenges reported at the site. The cause of the collapse remains undetermined, as there was no adverse weather at the time of the incident.

This incident follows a historical pattern of waste management challenges in the Philippines, reminiscent of a 2000 tragedy in Manila that resulted in over 200 fatalities and prompted legislative changes in waste management practices.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.