Cebu landfill landslide victims now all accounted for with last missing body found

Rescuers found the last missing victim of a landslide at a landfill in Barangay Binaliw in Cebu City on Sunday morning, thus all reported individuals affected have been fully accounted for, authorities said.

The body of the last missing victim was found at 5:41 a.m., the Bureau of Fire Protection - Region 7 Cebu City Fire Station said.

"As of 0541H, all reported individuals have now been fully accounted for following the dumpsite landslide incident in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City," it said.

With this, the death toll in the incident has reached 36.

"Responding teams have completed systematic search, rescue, and retrieval operations, ensuring that no further missing persons remain," it added.

"Coordination among ground units and partner agencies remains in effect as post-operation assessments and site monitoring continue," the BFP - Region 7 Cebu City Fire Station added.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected and our utmost respect to all responders who worked tirelessly under challenging conditions to bring closure to this incident," it added.

With help from K-9 units

The retrieval of the body of the last victim was also confirmed by Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairperson of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Tumulak said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday morning that the last victim pulled out early Sunday was male.

"Lalaki. Lahat itong 36 dead bodies ay mga empleyado ng Prime (Waste) Solutions at saka itong apat na subcontractors nila. Nahanap na natin lahat. Dahil sa tulong ng aso. Mga K-9 po galing pang Iloilo," he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(Male. All these 36 dead bodies were employees of Prime Waste Solutions and four of their subcontractors. We found them all through the help of dogs, K-9 (unit) from Iloilo.)

Tumulak said the victims were all inside the 7-hectare compound owned by the company.

"Ito ay sorting area, at saka may mga conveyors ito para sa sorting, recycling at saka opisina ng HR, clinic at saka canteen," he said.

(This is a sorting area with conveyors for sorting, recycling. And here too is the office of the human resources, clinic, and canteen.)

Sixteen of the victims were from Cebu City, while others were from Lapu-Lapu City and the municipalities of Consolacion and Balamban in Cebu Province, Tumulak said.

Tumulak also said the 24-hour nonstop rescue operations were ordered by Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival.

A rescue team would work for two hours then another rescue team would take over for the next two hours and so on, he said.

"Araw-araw, iba-iba ang duty. Two hours sila dahil sa baho sa landfill (Every day, it's a different team on duty. They go on duty for two hours only due to the smell from the landfill)," Tumulak said.

The nonstop rescue operations led to the discovery of victims' bodies at odd hours - night time or before dawn, he added.

The rescue teams who helped were from the BFP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, all local government units (LGU) of Cebu, LGUs of Davao and Dumaguete, Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation, and Philippine Red Cross, Tumulak said.

"Ngayon happy kami nakita lahat ng bodies. Pagkatapos nito, papasok 'yung law enforcement agencies. We will let the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and the other law enforcement agencies conduct their own investigation," he added.

(For now we are happy that all the bodies were found. After this, the law enforcement agencies will take over.)

The landslide occurred in the afternoon of January 8 at its waste management facility in Barangay Binaliw, Prime Waste Solutions Cebu earlier said in a statement.

The operator of the landfill facility then 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.”

The DENR Central Visayas has already issued a cease-and-desist order against Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc. (PWS), the operator of the said landfill. —KG, GMA Integrated News