Philippines Landfill Collapse in Cebu City Kills 11, Over 20 Missing
January 13, 2026
The death toll from a landfill collapse in the central Philippines has risen to 11, officials said. The disaster happened at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City last week. More than 100 workers were at the site when the landslide struck. Rescuers have saved 12 injured people so far, but over 20 remain missing. A local fire official told AFP it was unlikely that anyone survived after "tons of debris and trash had collapsed over them." The incident has led to calls for an investigation and a review of the country's waste management system. Environment authorities ordered Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc., which runs the landfill, to stop operations at the site. The company must "submit a compliance plan within 90 days," the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said. The department will also investigate the collapse and hold responsible parties accountable. Lawmakers want to review waste management and safety for waste workers. Senator Imee Marcos said, "This should have never happened. We have seen similar tragedies before, yet the same dangers persist." She added, "The lives lost in Cebu demand clear answers and real reforms." Resident Bienvinido Ranido, whose wife worked at the landfill, said he saw people running away when the "garbage exploded." He rushed to the site and found buildings buried by trash. Rescuers found his wife's body the next day. The Binaliw landfill covers about 15 hectares (37 acres). A preliminary report says continuous rainfall made the rubbish heavier and other engineering issues may have caused the landslide. Landfills like this are common in major Philippine cities like Cebu, the trading and transport hub of the Visayas region.
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Tags:
Philippines
Landfill Collapse
Binaliw Landfill
Cebu City
Waste management
Rescue operation
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