Filipino rescuers detect ‘signs of life’ in garbage avalanche that killed 4 and left dozens missing

Rescuers have detected signs of life in the massive garbage avalanche that struck a landfill in Cebu City, Philippines on Thursday, killing at least four people and leaving more than 30 others missing, local officials announced Saturday.

The disaster occurred at a waste management facility in the village of Binaliw when a mountain of garbage suddenly collapsed, crushing buildings and trapping workers. Twelve individuals have been rescued with injuries, while teams continue their desperate search for survivors in hazardous conditions.

“Authorities confirmed the presence of detected signs of life in specific areas, requiring continued careful excavation,” Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said in a statement. Rescue operations are being intensified with the deployment of a more advanced 50-ton crane being transported to the site under police escort.

Search efforts have been complicated by dangerous conditions, including unstable debris and acetylene risks, prompting officials to adjust security perimeters and implement controlled access to the site. “Safety of responders remains paramount,” Archival emphasized.

Among the confirmed dead are an engineer and a female office worker, all employees of the landfill and waste management facility, which employs a staff of 110 according to officials. The death toll increased from two to four between Friday and Saturday, though the mayor did not provide an updated count of those still missing.

Jaylord Antigua, a 31-year-old office worker at the facility who survived the collapse, described the terrifying experience to The Associated Press. “I saw a light and crawled toward it in a hurry, because I feared there will be more landslides,” Antigua said, sporting bruises on his face and arms after escaping the administrative office that was destroyed. “It was traumatic. I feared that it was my end, so this is my second life.”

The cause of the sudden collapse remains unclear. Antigua noted it happened instantly without warning, despite relatively good weather conditions at the time.

The disaster raises immediate questions about waste management in Cebu, a bustling port city of nearly a million residents that serves as a regional hub for trade, commerce, and tourism in the central Philippines. Mayor Archival indicated that preparations “are also underway to manage the looming garbage collection issue,” though specific details were not provided.

This incident highlights the persistent safety and health concerns surrounding landfills and open dumpsites throughout the Philippines. These facilities often operate near impoverished communities where residents frequently scavenge for recyclable materials and leftover food to sustain themselves.

The collapse evokes memories of a similar disaster in July 2000, when a massive garbage mound in suburban Quezon City, part of metropolitan Manila, collapsed and caught fire following several days of stormy weather. That catastrophe claimed more than 200 lives, left many others missing, and damaged numerous shanty homes in the vicinity.

The 2000 disaster prompted legislative action, resulting in a law requiring the closure of illegal dump sites nationwide and mandating improved, more sustainable waste management practices by local authorities. However, implementation of these regulations has been inconsistent across the country’s more than 7,000 islands.

As rescue operations continue in Cebu City, local officials face the dual challenges of finding potential survivors while addressing immediate public health concerns and the broader implications for waste management infrastructure in this key Philippine city.