Death toll in Cebu City landfill landslide rises to 3

The number of fatalities in the landfill collapse in Cebu City has increased to three, with dozens still missing as of Friday evening.

According to a Super Radyo dzBB post on X (formerly Twitter), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Cebu City recovered the body of a woman from the landfill at around 6:35 p.m. Friday

Meanwhile, the body of a 25-year-old male was recovered at about 4 p.m., GMA Integrated News' 24 Oras reported.

One individual was already reported as dead on Thursday afternoon, after the landslide hit a landfill site, particularly a materials recovery facility, in Barangay Binaliw.

A 24 Oras report by Fe Marie Dumaboc quoted the Cebu City Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) as saying that 34 individuals remain missing as rescue operations continue. 

At least 13 individuals, who were previously listed as missing, have been found as of posting time.

Most of the victims were workers who were performing their tasks at the site when disaster struck.

"Dito ako ng mga oras na yun…  'Yung mga kasamahan ko diyan, nasa walo kami. Sana makuha na sila, ma-rescue kasi nakakaawa. Kung nandoon ako, kasama ako sa kanila," shared survivor Dominic Baliguat, who said that he was able to leave the warehouse only minutes before the tragedy.

(I was here around that time… There were around eight of us. I hope they can be rescued soon because I feel for them. If I had stayed, I would have been buried there with them.)

He said there were no indications that the landfill, which was about 200 meters away from the materials recovery facility, would collapse.

"Malayo [ang basura]. Building 'yan at napakataas niyan. Ang distance mula sa basura, mataas talaga," Baliguat said.

(The garbage was far away. The materials recovery facility was a tall building.)

Combined effects

Authorities said the incident may have occurred due to the combined effects of the magnitude-6.9 earthquake in Northern Cebu last September 30, heavy rainfall due to Bagyong Tino on November 4, and recent rains due to several weather systems affecting the country.

They added that they are conducting rescue operations with care to avoid the risk of causing further harm during operations.

"Nakita ko ang mga tao na mga buhay pa, pero the challenge is we cannot use any equipment dahil ang cutter nagpro-produce ng spark. The moment na may spark [there could be a disaster]. There is methane, there is gas," said Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival.

(I saw that some people were still alive, but the challenge is that we cannot use any equipment because the cutter produces a spark. The moment there's a spark [there could be a disaster]. There is methane, there is gas.)

"Hindi muna tayo nag-iimbestiga for the moment dahil maaapektuhan ang focus natin sa pag-rescue," he added.

(We won't investigate for the now because we need to focus on the rescue.)

State of calamity mulled

The Cebu City government said it is now seeking permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to dispose garbage at Consolacion and Minglanilla towns.

It is looking into declaring a state of calamity in Barangay Binaliw or all of Cebu City due to the incident. 

Landfill operator Prime Waste Solutions Cebu had confirmed that a landslide occurred at its waste management facility in Barangay Binaliw at around 4 p.m. Thursday.

The company had 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." — VDV, GMA Integrated News