Massive Garbage Mound Collapses at Cebu Landfill, One Dead and Dozens Trapped

Daftar Isi

 

en01.web.id – Philippines.

A massive mound of garbage collapsed at a landfill facility in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City, in the central Philippines on Thursday (January 8, 2026), killing one worker and burying dozens of others, local authorities confirmed. The incident prompted an emergency rescue operation involving police, firefighters, and medical teams.

The collapse occurred during daytime working hours while employees were carrying out routine waste sorting and disposal activities. Without warning, a towering pile of accumulated garbage—estimated to be several stories high—gave way and crashed down onto work areas, including low-rise structures used as offices and rest shelters for workers.

Officials said at least 38 people were initially reported trapped or unaccounted for after the collapse, as large volumes of waste buried sections of the site. Several workers were pulled out alive in the early hours of the rescue operation and were immediately taken to nearby hospitals for treatment of various injuries.

Authorities confirmed that one female worker died after being rescued from the debris. She was rushed to a medical facility but was pronounced dead while en route, becoming the sole confirmed fatality as of Thursday evening.

Preliminary assessments by local officials indicated that the collapse was not caused by heavy rain or extreme weather. Instead, investigators are focusing on the instability of the garbage mound, which had grown significantly over time, raising concerns about safety standards and structural monitoring at the landfill.

A joint rescue team comprising firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and volunteers was deployed to the scene. Heavy machinery was used to clear the waste, though rescue efforts were slowed by the risk of secondary collapses, toxic gases released from decomposing garbage, and poor visibility at the site.

In response to the incident, the Cebu City government ordered a temporary suspension of operations at the landfill to prioritize rescue efforts and ensure the safety of emergency personnel. Authorities also indicated that a formal investigation would be launched to determine whether negligence or violations of waste management regulations contributed to the collapse.

The incident has once again highlighted longstanding concerns over landfill safety and waste management practices in the Philippines, a country that has experienced similar tragedies in the past. As search and rescue operations continue, officials said a comprehensive review of landfill operations would be conducted to prevent future disasters.