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One dead, 38 missing after landfill collapse sends mass of garbage into village
09th January, 2026 07:47 AM
One person has died and 38 others are missing after a landfill collapse in the Philippines.
Reports suggest they are trapped in an avalanche of garbage and debris from a waste management facility that spilled in the village of Binaliw.
The incident prompted the Cebu City government to deploy rescue teams, ambulances, and heavy equipment as authorities assessed possible damage to nearby houses.
Twelve people are injured, and one woman died en route to hospital.
According to local media, the efforts of search teams have been hampered by hazardous conditions.
Councillor Joel Garganera, chair of the city council’s environment committee, said the collapse happened after 4pm (8am UK time) on Thursday.
He said: “The steel trusses are massive, the garbage is soft, and there is a constant risk of movement.
“There is also a serious concern about toxic air, which could endanger anyone trapped for too long.”
An employee at the landfill, Joey Boy Gealon, described hearing screams and loud crashing sounds – telling the Cebu Daily News that the collapse happened without warning.
He alleged that employees have been concerned about the height of the garbage for several years.
Prime Waste Solutions Cebu, which operates the facility, said in a statement: “The safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors, and neighbouring communities remain our top priority.”
One of the buildings hit by the wall of debris which cascaded down in the landfill was a warehouse where workers separated recyclable waste and rubbish, said police brigadier general Redrico Maranan.
He added that it remains unclear if nearby houses were also affected.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said: “All response teams remain fully engaged in search and retrieval efforts to locate the remaining missing persons with strict adherence to safety protocols.”
