In Cebu City, Philippines, rescuers have detected signs of life in a garbage avalanche at a landfill that killed at least four workers and left over 30 missing. The collapse occurred between low-rise buildings in Binariu Village, leading to the injury of twelve workers. Authorities confirmed that recovery efforts will intensify, now utilizing a 50-ton crane for safe excavation amidst hazardous conditions.
The deceased included an engineer and a female office worker, both employees of the landfill. The incident’s cause remains unknown, but survivors reported the trash wall collapsed suddenly. Worker Jaylord Antigua described a harrowing escape through the rubble, highlighting the risks posed by unstable debris.
The situation raises concerns about garbage disposal in Cebu, a city with a population of around 1 million, while authorities prepare to manage upcoming waste collection challenges. The phasing out of unsafe landfills has been a long-standing health and safety issue in the country, with a past disaster in Quezon City in 2000 leading to over 200 deaths.
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