• The death toll from the Cebu landfill collapse has reached four.
• Over 30 workers remain unaccounted for as rescue efforts continue.
• Recovery operations face dangerous conditions amid unstable debris.

The death toll from a landfill collapse in the central Philippines has increased to four, with rescue operations ongoing for many more who are still missing. The incident at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu occurred on Thursday afternoon, affecting about 110 workers on site. According to Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, 36 individuals were reported missing as of Friday, while 12 others have been rescued and hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the collapse, as reported by Al Jazeera, India Times, and Reuters.

Rescue teams are racing against time, with reports indicating that some individuals may still be alive beneath the rubble. Mayor Archival stated that “signs of life” had been detected in certain areas, necessitating the use of a more advanced 50-ton crane to aid in debris removal. The precarious working conditions, including the presence of unstable debris, have made the rescue efforts particularly challenging, and workers have been deployed continuously to search throughout the day and night, according to BBC and India Times.

The circumstances surrounding the landfill collapse are under investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that poor waste management practices and environmental factors, such as heavy rainfall potentially weakening the landfill’s integrity, might have contributed to the disaster. Officials are scrutinizing whether the operational practices of the dumpster could have increased risks, as indicated by Cebu City councillor Joel Garganera, according to India Times and BBC.