Landfill Collapse in Cebu Kills 1, 38 Missing

CEBU CITY, Philippines Rescue teams continued searching for survivors Friday after a massive garbage pile collapsed at the Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City, killing at least one person and leaving 38 others missing.

The incident occurred Thursday afternoon around 4:17 p.m. at the privately operated facility in Barangay Binaliw, burying dozens of sanitation workers under tons of waste. The collapse also toppled a materials recovery building used by landfill staff, affecting an estimated 110 employees on site. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed one fatality, identified as a 22-year-old woman, and said 12 workers had been pulled from the debris and rushed to hospitals, including seven at Visayas Medical Center and five at North General Hospital. All received ongoing medical care.

Rescue operations, involving multiple agencies, proceeded cautiously due to unstable ground and the risk of further collapses from steel structures and shifting debris. Archival told families of the victims that teams were removing rubble gradually from the sides to avoid endangering those still trapped. "We have already provided oxygen. For now, we are making sure not to rush because the ground...