Landfill collapse in Cebu City leaves 11 dead and more than 20 missing

BBC
BBC
44m ago
A landfill collapse at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City has killed 11 people, injured 12, and left more than 20 missing while authorities and rescuers continue search efforts and order the operator to suspend activities.
Landfill collapse in Cebu City leaves 11 dead and more than 20 missing
A What happened
A collapsed landfill at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City in the central Philippines has left 11 people dead, with 12 injured pulled from debris and more than 20 still missing. Officials said the landslide happened last week while more than 100 workers were on site, and Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said “signs of life” were detected during a search on Monday. Environment authorities ordered Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc. to suspend activities at the site and submit a compliance plan within 90 days, and said an investigation would be conducted to hold responsible parties to account. A preliminary report cited by local media pointed to continuous rainfall in recent weeks that made rubbish heavier, plus other engineering factors.

Key insights

  • 1

    Officials continued rescue operations despite low survival expectations: A local fire official said it was unlikely people would still be alive three days after the collapse, while Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said signs of life were detected and officials remained in rescue mode.

  • 2

    Government actions included suspension and compliance requirements for the operator: Environment authorities ordered Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc. to suspend activities and submit a compliance plan within 90 days, and said an investigation would be conducted to hold responsible parties to account.

  • 3

    Lawmakers called for broader reviews beyond the immediate incident: Lawmaker statements called for reviews of the country’s waste management system and the working conditions of waste workers.

Takeaways

Rescue efforts continued at the Binaliw landfill site as authorities investigated the collapse and enforced a suspension order on the operator.

Topics

Investigations Law & Public Safety Public Safety Accidents & Fires

Read the full article on BBC

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