Manila: A sudden collapse of garbage and debris at a landfill in the central Philippine city of Cebu has killed one worker, injured several others, and left dozens missing.
The disaster struck Thursday afternoon in the village of Binaliw when a towering mound of waste, soil, and debris gave way without warning, burying low-lying buildings inside the landfill complex. Officials said the collapse happened in clear weather, catching workers completely off guard.
Rescue teams worked through the night and managed to pull 13 people alive from the wreckage. However, one female landfill worker later died while being transported to the hospital. At least 12 others were injured and remain under medical care. Authorities said 38 people were still unaccounted for as of Friday morning.
Those affected were believed to be mostly landfill employees, although officials said it was not yet clear whether nearby residents or informal waste pickers were also caught in the collapse. The waste management facility employs around 110 workers.
Survivors described scenes of chaos as the cascading rubbish crushed buildings. One office worker narrowly escaped after his workspace was flattened, crawling through debris to reach safety with injuries to his face and arms.
TINGNAN | Ilang pamilya ng mga natabunan ng gumuhong landfill sa Barangay Binaliw Cebu City, emosyonal habang hinihintay ang update mula sa mga rescuers sa nagpapatuloy na search and rescue operation.
Ipinag-utos na ni Mayor Nestor Archival na gawing 24/7 ang rescue efforts… pic.twitter.com/k8FFByZdeK
— Radyo Pilipinas (@radyopilipinas1) January 9, 2026
Heavy equipment was deployed to clear the site, where twisted metal roofing and shattered beams lay buried under layers of waste. Relatives of missing workers gathered near the landfill, anxiously watching as rescuers searched for signs of life.
Cebu Mayor Nestor Archival said all emergency response teams remained fully engaged in search and retrieval efforts, stressing that safety protocols were being strictly followed. He also assured families that the city government was committed to transparency, accountability, and support for those affected.
One of the buildings destroyed was a warehouse used for sorting recyclable materials. Officials said investigations were underway to determine whether nearby homes had also been damaged. Landfills and open dumpsites have long posed significant safety and health risks in the Philippines, particularly in areas near impoverished communities where people often scavenge for food and recyclable materials.
The tragedy has revived memories of a deadly dumpsite collapse in Quezon City in 2000, which killed more than 200 people and led to tighter waste management laws.
