The death toll from a catastrophic landfill collapse in the Philippines has increased to eleven, as emergency teams continue a perilous search for dozens of missing individuals buried under tonnes of waste and debris.
Race Against Time in Unstable Conditions
Rescue operations have been ongoing for days at the Barangay Binaliw landfill facility in Cebu City, where a huge mound of garbage gave way last week. Cebu City Fire Station spokesperson Wendell Villanueva confirmed on Tuesday 13 January 2026 that 25 people remain unaccounted for, with 12 others injured.
Teams are working around the clock in highly unstable conditions. Cebu City mayor, Nestor Archival, stated that responders had detected possible "signs of life" beneath the collapse, prompting officials to remain in "rescue mode" despite more than 72 hours having passed. The initial pace was deliberately slow due to severe hazards, including gas leaks and the risk of further collapse from interconnected steel structures.
Survivors Recount Sudden, Traumatic Collapse
Survivors described the incident as sudden and without warning. Jaylord Antigua, a 31-year-old office worker who escaped with injuries, told the Associated Press that a wall of garbage crashed down in seconds, destroying offices and trapping employees.
"I saw a light and crawled toward it in a hurry, because I feared there will be more landslides," he said. "It was traumatic. I feared that it was my end, so this is my second life."
Operator Suspended as Calls for Reform Grow
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas has issued a cease-and-desist order against the site's operator, Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc., suspending all operations. The company must submit a compliance plan within 90 days. In a statement, the firm said it was cooperating with authorities and that the safety of employees and communities was its "top priority".
The disaster has reignited serious concerns about landfill safety across the Philippines, where such sites are often located near low-income communities. Senator Imee Marcos said, "This should have never happened. We have seen similar tragedies before, yet the same dangers persist. The lives lost in Cebu demand clear answers and real reforms."
This tragedy echoes a 2000 disaster in Quezon City, where a garbage dump collapse killed more than 200 people and prompted national waste management reforms—reforms critics argue have been unevenly enforced.
