Cebu landfill landslide search, rescue ops temporarily suspended amid rains

Search, rescue, and retrieval operations at the Cebu City landfill landslide site were temporarily suspended after continuous rainfall raised safety concerns for responders on Friday.

Interviewed on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Special Rescue Force’s Senior Fire Officer I Fulbert Navarro said heavy rains began around midnight.

“Nakikita niyo naman po ngayon. Yung pag-ulan po kagabi, nag-start around 12 midnight. Minarapat na i-suspend muna ng ating incident commander yung ating mga search, rescue and retrieval operations kasi masyadong delikado doon sa loob,” Navarro said.

(You can see the weather condition now. The rain last night started around 12 midnight. Our incident commander decided to suspend our search, rescue, and retrieval operations because it was too dangerous inside.)

“Pero yung mga equipment namin, lahat nandoon pa rin kami, malapit lang. So inaantabayanan muna namin yung additional instructions kung kailan magsisimula ulit yung operations,” he added.

(But all our equipment is still there, just nearby. So we are waiting for additional instructions on when operations will resume.)

As of the latest update, authorities have recovered a total of 26 bodies. Identification of the cadavers is ongoing, with coordination underway to confirm identities and notify their respective families.

Around 10 individuals remain missing, according to Navarro.

Landfill operator Prime Waste Solutions Cebu’s field engineers and the Army’s 53rd Engineer Brigade are evaluating the stability of the site to determine whether it is safe to resume operations, Navarro said.

Since January 8, search and rescue operations have been conducted following the landslide at the landfill site.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Visayas has issued a cease-and-desist order against Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc. (PWS).

On Wednesday, the landfill operator said it has provided financial assistance and psychosocial services to the families of affected employees, covered medical expenses for the injured, and shouldered funeral and burial costs. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News