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 that signs of life had been detected at the site in Cebu City, two days post-incident. So far, four casualties have been confirmed, with 12 others hospitalized.
Conditions for emergency services working at the site are challenging due to unstable debris, with crews awaiting better equipment for the rescue operations.
The privately-owned Binaliw landfill collapsed on Thursday while 110 workers were on site. Archival reported promising signs of life in certain areas, necessitating careful excavation and the use of a more advanced crane.
Relatives of the missing individuals are anxiously awaiting updates. Over 30 workers from the landfill are currently believed to be unaccounted for. We are just hoping that we can get someone alive... We are racing against time, said Cebu City councillor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the city's disaster council.
Jerahmey Espinoza, whose husband is missing, expressed her hope, stating: They haven't seen him or located him ever since the disaster happened. We're still hopeful that he's alive. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, with indications pointing towards poor waste management practices being a contributing factor.
The Binaliw landfill spans approximately 15 hectares (37 acres) and is a typical waste management site within major Philippine cities, such as Cebu, known for being a central hub in the archipelago.
