The death toll in a collapsed landfill in the central Philippines has risen to 11, authorities said, as hopes of finding survivors dim.
The landslide occurred at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City last week while more than 100 workers were on site, officials said.
Rescuers have so far pulled 12 injured people out of the debris, but more than 20 people still remain missing. One local fire official had earlier told AFP that it was unlikely for people to still be alive three days after tons of debris and trash had collapsed over them.
The incident has sparked calls for an investigation into the cause of the collapse, as well as a review of the country's waste management system.
Environment authorities have since ordered Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc., the landfill's operator, to suspend its activities at the site.
The company must submit a compliance plan within 90 days, according to a statement from the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The department also announced an investigation into the cause of the collapse and intends to hold responsible parties accountable.
Lawmakers are advocating for reviews of the country's waste management system and the working conditions of waste workers.
Senator Imee Marcos, who has called for an investigation into the Binaliw landfill's operations, stated, This should have never happened. We have seen similar tragedies before, yet the same dangers persist. She emphasized that the lives lost in Cebu demand clear answers and real reforms.
Bienvinido Ranido, a nearby resident whose wife worked at the landfill, recounted witnessing the "garbage exploding" and later learned his wife's body had been recovered. I screamed when I saw the collapsed building buried in garbage, he said.
The Binaliw landfill covers approximately 15 hectares (37 acres).
Preliminary reports from the local Mines and Geosciences Bureau indicate that continuous rainfall in recent weeks may have contributed to the disaster, making the refuse heavier, alongside other engineering factors.
Landfills are commonplace in major Philippine cities like Cebu, which acts as a trading center and transportation hub for the central islands of the archipelago.
