Recovery efforts at a collapsed landfill in the Philippines have been officially terminated after the body of the final missing worker was found, bringing the tragic death toll to 36.
Search Concludes After Ten-Day Operation
The last victim was retrieved shortly after dawn on 18 January, ten days after a massive section of the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City gave way. The site, located in a mountainous area outside the city, had been the focus of a relentless operation involving hundreds of emergency responders.
"Today, the search-and-rescue operation at the Binaliw landfill has been officially terminated," confirmed David Tumulak, a city councillor heading the local disaster risk reduction committee. He stated the final victim was located at 5.41am local time and remains unidentified. In total, six bodies recovered from the disaster site have yet to be named.
The catastrophic collapse occurred shortly before 5pm on 8 January, when a huge mass of rubbish, steel, and heavy equipment slid down, trapping workers inside a facility operated by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions.
Investigation Launched into Safety Failures
With the recovery phase complete, attention has swiftly turned to investigating the causes of the disaster. "Everything is finished and all the missing persons have been recovered," said Cebu City mayor Nestor Archival. "The investigation will immediately begin."
National authorities are now reviewing the circumstances that led to the collapse. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has ordered the landfill operator to suspend all activities and submit a compliance plan within 90 days. Officials are assessing whether safety and engineering standards were breached.
Initial findings from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau suggest weeks of sustained rainfall, combined with structural issues, may have overloaded the waste mound. Mayor Archival previously likened the sodden garbage to a "sponge" following heavy rains from a typhoon in November.
Widespread Disruption and Calls for Reform
The disaster has caused significant disruption across the region. The landfill serves not only Cebu City—a major commercial hub of about one million people—but also the neighbouring cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue. City officials have been forced to divert rubbish to other sites while arranging temporary disposal, a challenge exacerbated by the upcoming Sinulog festival which draws millions of visitors and generates vast amounts of extra waste.
Beyond the immediate logistical crisis, the tragedy has ignited urgent calls for systemic reform. Lawmakers and environmental groups are demanding broader changes to the Philippines' waste management infrastructure and better protections for landfill workers, warning that similarly risky sites exist near residential areas nationwide.
The human cost of the collapse extends beyond the 36 lives lost. The city government confirms 18 people were injured, with four still receiving hospital treatment. The Bureau of Fire Protection has stated all reported missing individuals are now accounted for and that monitoring of the unstable area will continue.
