• One woman confirmed dead, with 38 others unaccounted for at the Cebu landfill collapse.
• Rescuers have retrieved at least 12 survivors, some hospitalized with injuries.
• The cause of the collapse is under investigation, with concerns about poor waste management.

A devastating avalanche of garbage collapsed at the Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City, Philippines, on Thursday, resulting in one confirmed death and leaving at least 38 people missing. The collapse occurred without warning, affecting workers at the landfill, and leaving two structures heavily damaged under the debris. One of the victims, a female worker, died en route to the hospital, according to police reports. Search and rescue teams are currently working around the clock to locate the missing individuals, using heavy machinery to sift through the massive piles of waste, which are estimated to be four stories high, according to BBC, Channel News Asia, and India Times.

Cebu Mayor Nestor Archival reported that approximately 300 rescue personnel are at the site, assessing the situation and conducting search operations. Some reports indicate that as many as 50 individuals may have been trapped under the debris, while the mayor confirmed that 12 survivors have been successfully rescued and are receiving medical treatment. The Grounds for the collapse are still being investigated, with suggestions of poor waste management practices being a potential contributing factor, as remarked by city officials, according to Al Jazeera, CBS News, and South China Morning Post.

The incident has raised alarms about the safety risks associated with landfills in the region, especially in the wake of disasters from previous collapses in the Philippines. Historical precedents remind the public of a similar tragedy in 2000 that resulted in over 200 deaths in Quezon City. City officials are expected to convene for an emergency meeting to address this crisis and outline strategies to enhance safety and management practices in waste disposal, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by workers in these environments, according to BBC, CBS News, and Channel News Asia.