In brief
In the wake of a devastating landslide at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City, officials report that at least four people have died, while over 30 are still missing. Rescue teams face hazardous circumstances as they continue round-the-clock efforts to find survivors, with detected signs of life adding a glimmer of hope. The incident raises serious concerns over waste management practices in the region.
Rescue workers are racing to find dozens of people still missing following a landslide at a landfill site in the central Philippines earlier this week, an official has said.
Mayor Nestor Archival reported Saturday that signs of life had been detected at the site in Cebu City, two days after the incident.
Four people have been confirmed dead so far, Archival mentioned, while 12 others have been taken to a hospital.
Conditions for emergency services working at the site are challenging, with hazards such as unstable debris and crews awaiting better equipment.
The privately-owned Binaliw landfill collapsed on Thursday while about 110 workers were on site, according to officials.
In a Facebook post on Saturday morning local time, Archival confirmed the presence of detected signs of life in specific areas, necessitating careful excavation and the deployment of a more advanced 50-ton crane.
Relatives of the missing have been anxiously waiting for any news regarding their loved ones, with more than 30 workers from the landfill still unaccounted for.
We are just hoping that we can get someone alive... We are racing against time, that's why our deployment is 24/7, said Cebu City councillor Dave Tumulak, Chairman of the city's disaster council.
Jerahmey Espinoza, whose husband is among the missing, expressed hope: They haven't seen him or located him ever since the disaster happened. We're still hopeful that he's alive.
The cause of the collapse remains unclear, although local officials suggest it may have resulted from inadequate waste management practices. Operators had been cutting into the mountain to mine soil and then piling garbage on top.
The Binaliw landfill spans approximately 15 hectares (37 acres) and is indicative of the challenges faced by major cities in the Philippines, such as Cebu, a key trading and transportation hub in the Visayas region.
