Rescue workers are racing to find dozens of people still missing following a landslide at a landfill site in the central Philippines earlier this week, an official has said.
Mayor Nestor Archival stated on Saturday that signs of life had been detected at the site in Cebu City, two days after the incident.
So far, four people have been confirmed dead, while 12 others have been taken to the hospital.
Emergency services face challenging conditions with unstable debris, as they await the arrival of better equipment.
The privately-owned Binaliw landfill collapsed on Thursday while 110 workers were present on site. In a Facebook update, Mayor Archival mentioned the need for careful excavation to safely reach areas where life signs have been detected.
More than 30 people, all believed to be workers at the landfill, are still unaccounted for. “We are just hoping that we can get someone alive... We are racing against time,” noted Cebu City councilor Dave Tumulak.
Relatives of the missing have been anxiously waiting for any updates. Jerahmey Espinoza, whose husband is reported as missing, expressed hope for his survival, stating, “They haven't seen him or located him ever since the disaster happened.”
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, with indications pointing towards poor waste management practices. Local officials are examining operational methods at the landfill that may have contributed to its instability.
Situated on approximately 15 hectares, the Binaliw landfill is part of Cebu, a critical trading and transportation hub in the Philippines.
