11/01/2026
At least six dead, dozens missing in Cebu landfill collapse as rescuers battle shifting debris
Cebu City, Philippines — Rescue operations entered their fourth day Sunday amid treacherous conditions at the collapsed Binaliw landfill in Cebu City, where the death toll climbed to six after two more bodies were recovered early in the morning, officials said.
The massive garbage avalanche struck Thursday afternoon at the privately operated waste segregation facility in Barangay Binaliw, burying scores of workers under tons of refuse, soil and debris when a towering mound — described by authorities as equivalent to the height of a 20-storey building — suddenly gave way.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who heads the city's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, confirmed the recovery of two women's bodies at around 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday, bringing the confirmed fatalities to six. Twelve workers have been rescued alive and hospitalised with injuries, while approximately 30 to 32 individuals remain unaccounted for, based on the latest tallies from city officials and the Management of the Dead and Missing unit.
Search teams, including firefighters, police and volunteers using heavy machinery, sniffer dogs and manual excavation, continued efforts despite repeated halts caused by unstable, shifting piles of waste and heavy metal debris. Signs of life were detected Saturday in certain areas, prompting the deployment of a larger 50-ton crane to assist in careful removal operations.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has emphasised strict safety protocols for rescuers and pledged ongoing support for the victims' families, many of whom have maintained a vigil near the site.
Investigators are probing the cause of the disaster, with preliminary factors including heavy rainfall from recent weather systems, soil instability possibly exacerbated by a major earthquake in Cebu last September, and overloading of waste at the facility.
The incident has renewed scrutiny over waste management practices in the Philippines, echoing past tragedies such as the 2000 Payatas dumpsite collapse in Metro Manila that killed more than 200 people.
The Binaliw facility has been indefinitely shut down, and calls for a congressional inquiry into the collapse and broader garbage disposal regulations have been raised by lawmakers.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development continues to distribute food aid to affected relatives gathered at the scene as the desperate search for survivors presses on.
