Six killed, 32 missing after 20-storey garbage heap collapses in Philippines; see pictures of the aftermath

Rescue teams continued searching for survivors on Saturday after a massive landfill collapse in the central Philippines buried dozens of sanitation workers in Cebu City, killing at least six people and leaving 32 others missing, reports AFP.

Around 50 workers were trapped on Thursday when a huge mound of garbage collapsed at the privately operated Binaliw Landfill. A city councillor estimated the refuse fell from a height equivalent to 20 storeys, AFP reported. At least 12 workers have been rescued alive and hospitalised so far.

Rescue workers wearing hard hats and using backhoes dug through unstable rubble amid the risk of further collapse. Cebu rescuer Jo Reyes said operations were continuing but were frequently interrupted due to shifting debris. “Operations are ongoing as of the moment. It is continuous. But from time to time, the landfill is moving, and that will temporarily stop the operation,” she told AFP.

Bodies recovered amid unstable conditions

Cebu City councillor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the city’s disaster council, said two additional bodies were uncovered on Saturday, taking the death toll to six. However, recovery efforts were slowed by fallen metal structures. “We found another two bodies, but we cannot retrieve the bodies because of the heavy metal beam that fell on them, so we are trying to cut the metal,” he told AFP.

To support the operation, authorities were deploying 20 trucks fitted with hydraulic cranes and specialised cutting tools. Tumulak said rescuers were struggling to navigate the site due to the size of the debris. “Our rescuers are struggling because the metal beams are big,” he told AFP, adding that the additional equipment would allow crews to work more efficiently. He said rescue teams were working round the clock in hopes of finding survivors alive.

Families wait as hopes dim

Families of missing workers gathered near the site awaiting updates, Cebu City councillor Joel Garganera told AFP. “We are hoping against hope here and praying for miracles,” he said.

Garganera described the height of the garbage pile as alarming and warned that such collapses become more likely during heavy rain. “The garbage is like a sponge, they really absorb water. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to say that eventually, the incident will happen,” he told AFP. He added that drivers had long complained about the dangers posed by the steep road leading to the top of the landfill.

Landfill central to city waste disposal

Police photographs released on Friday showed a massive mound of trash towering behind buildings housing administrative offices and staff accommodation, where many of those buried had been staying, Garganera told AFP.

He described the disaster as a major blow for Cebu City, as the landfill is the sole waste disposal facility serving the city and nearby communities. According to its operator, Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, the site processes about 1,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily. Calls and emails to the company have gone unanswered.

Survivor recounts narrow escape

Rita Cogay, a 49-year-old compactor operator at the landfill, said she narrowly escaped death after stepping outside moments before the building she was in collapsed. “I thought a helicopter had crashed. But when I turned, it was the garbage and the building coming down,” she told AFP.

Rescue efforts remained underway as crews raced against time amid the continuing risk of further collapse.

(With inputs from AFP)