CEBU City—A landslide occurred at the privately-run landfill in Sitio Kainsikan, Barangay Binaliw in Cebu City on Thursday, leaving three dead, 12 injured, and 35 others missing.
Initial reports by the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRMO) said a total of 98 people was present at the site at the time of the incident but 63 were confirmed away from the affected area and have returned to their families.
According to the reports from the Cebu City Police Office (CPPO) and from the Office of the City Mayor, the sheer volume of waste piled at the site caused the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) building to collapse.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival went to the site accompanied by representatives of the CCDRMO, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), theEmergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF), personnel of Police Station 8 led by the officer-in-charge, Capt/ Wilmer Castillo and other emergency medical teams, barangay responders, and volunteer groups to conduct search, rescue, and retrieval operations.
Rescue teams, including ambulances and heavy equipment, were deployed to the scene to extract the trapped workers.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will conduct an investigation into the cause of the collapse,” Archival said and urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to take decisive action on complaints raised by local government units regarding the landfill’s safety and environmental concerns.
It can be recalled that local residents and workers have expressed concerns over the landfill’s safety, citing its history of complaints and the risk of collapse. The incident today has raised questions about the continued operation of the landfill, with some calling for its closure.
PCOL George Ylanan, CPPO Officer-in-Charge told the media that the priority at this time is the safety and rescue of those who are still missing. All available PNP units with its partner agencies, are working continuously and exerting maximum effort to locate and assist the victims.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and assure the public that we will not stop until all missing persons are accounted for. We urge the public to remain calm, avoid the affected area to give way to emergency responders, and rely only on verified information from official sources,” Ylanan added.
Archival directed all responding units to continue an all-out search and rescue operation 24/7, stressing that saving lives remains the top priority, alongside ensuring the safety of rescuers. He also met with the families and relatives of the workers who remain unaccounted for to assure them that rescue efforts continue without interruption and that all possible measures are being taken.
