Search, rescue ops in Cebu City landslide: 1 dead, 30 missing

One was reported dead while 30 others remain missing following a landslide at a landfill site in Barangay Binaliw in Cebu City on Thursday afternoon. 

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Lou-Anne Mae Rondina in “Saksi,” most of the victims were workers of the private landfill site, a materials recovery facility.

Nine individuals were rescued but one died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Search and rescue teams are still looking for 30 others who remain missing after the landslide.

Tension also temporarily brewed between the families of the workers and the landfill site’s security guards. This was because only rescue personnel were allowed at the site.

The report noted that emotions ran high as the families sought updates on the situation of their loved ones.

Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera admitted that they are encountering some difficulties in the rescue efforts but assured that seach and rescue operations will be conducted round-the-clock.

In an earlier Facebook post, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival cited initial reports that people were trapped as a result of the landslide.

Medical assistance and emergency support teams are also onsite to support the ongoing search and rescue operations, he added.

“I am closely monitoring the situation and will be heading to the Binaliw landfill as soon as possible to personally check the situation and coordinate further actions,” Archival said in a mixture of English and Cebuano.

“We ask the public to remain calm and please avoid the area first so that our responders can respond appropriately,” he added.

Archival said official and verified updates will be released through their official channels.

In an emailed statement, Prime Waste Solutions Cebu confirmed that a landslide occurred at its waste management facility in Barangay Binaliw at around 4 p.m. Thursday.

The operator of the landfill facility said it is “working closely with relevant government agencies and the local government to provide the necessary assistance and support to all those affected by the incident.”

Prime Waste Solutions Cebu said the facility’s operations have been suspended. It also appealed to the public to refrain from going near the affected area.

The landfill facility operator assured that it will provide updates and share information once available.

“The safety and well-being of our employees, contractors, and neighboring communities remain our top priority,” it added. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News