Mound of garbage collapses at Philippine landfill, killing 2 and leaving 36 others missing

A massive garbage avalanche at a landfill in Cebu City, Philippines has left two people dead and 36 others missing, as rescue teams continue their desperate search through the debris. The disaster occurred Thursday afternoon in the village of Binaliw when a mountain of garbage, earth, and debris suddenly collapsed on workers at the waste management facility.

Thirteen people were initially rescued alive, though one worker later died while being transported to a hospital, according to regional police director Brig. Gen. Roderick Maranan. The body of a 25-year-old engineer who worked at the facility was recovered Friday afternoon, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed in a statement.

Jaylord Antigua, a 31-year-old office worker at the landfill, described the terrifying moment when the collapse occurred without warning, despite clear weather conditions. The avalanche destroyed his office, forcing him to crawl beneath the rubble to escape with bruises on his face and arms.

“I saw a light and crawled toward it in a hurry, because I feared there will be more landslides,” Antigua told the Associated Press. “It was traumatic. I feared that it was my end, so this is my second life.”

The search and rescue operation continues around the clock at the facility, which employs 110 workers. Rescue teams, equipped with earthmoving machinery, are scouring through devastated buildings with twisted tin roofs and collapsed iron beams.

“All response teams remain fully engaged in search and retrieval efforts to locate the remaining missing persons with strict adherence to safety protocols,” Mayor Archival said in a statement. “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 as operations continue.”

The scene is one of heartbreak as relatives of the missing wait in anguish. Local media reported that family members have been seen openly weeping, pleading with rescuers to work faster to find their loved ones.

According to Maranan, one of the buildings hit by the cascading wall of garbage was a warehouse where workers sorted recyclable materials from other waste. The facility serves as a key waste management site for Cebu City, one of the Philippines’ major urban centers with a population of nearly one million.

This disaster highlights the ongoing safety and health concerns surrounding landfills and open dumpsites across the Philippines. These sites have long been problematic, particularly in areas adjacent to impoverished communities where residents often scavenge for recyclable materials and food scraps to earn a living.

The tragedy evokes memories of a similar disaster in July 2000, when a garbage mound collapsed at a dumpsite in suburban Quezon City in metropolitan Manila following several days of stormy weather. That catastrophe claimed more than 200 lives, left many others missing, and damaged numerous shanties. It led to the enactment of legislation requiring the closure of illegal dumpsites and improved waste management practices by local authorities.

Despite these regulations, implementation has been inconsistent across the country, with many municipalities still struggling with proper waste disposal infrastructure and management.

As the search continues in Cebu City, questions are likely to emerge about the management and safety protocols at the Binaliw landfill, as well as the broader issues of waste management throughout the Philippines. Local environmental groups have often cited the dangers posed by inadequate waste disposal systems, particularly as urban centers continue to grow and produce increasing amounts of garbage.

For now, however, the focus remains on locating the 36 missing workers as rescue teams race against time, hoping to find survivors among the debris.