Death Toll in Philippines Rubbish Landslide Rises to 11 as Rescue Continues
Published : 00:23, 14 January 2026
The death toll from a catastrophic rubbish landslide at the Binaliw sanitary landfill in Cebu City, Philippines, has climbed to 11, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday as search and rescue efforts press on amid desperate hopes of finding survivors.
The disaster occurred on January 8, 2026, when a massive mound of accumulated garbage collapsed at a waste management facility in Barangay Binaliw, burying scores of sanitation workers and facility staff beneath tons of debris.
Rescuers continued painstaking operations under hazardous conditions more than 72 hours after the collapse, facing unstable waste piles, foul odours, the risk of methane gas ignition, and tangled steel and rubble that complicate efforts to reach those still missing.
Officials said at least 25 people remain unaccounted for, and 18 survivors who were pulled from the wreckage are being treated in the hospital for injuries sustained in the incident.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said that despite the lapse of the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors, the rescue teams are proceeding cautiously in the hope that signs of life detected beneath the debris could indicate someone still alive. He emphasised that operations must be slow and methodical to avoid further endangering both trapped individuals and rescue personnel.
The collapse has prompted widespread concern about waste management practices and safety at landfill sites in the Philippines. In response, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued a cease-and-desist order halting operations at the Binaliw facility pending compliance and investigation.
Investigations are ongoing into the structural and environmental factors that led to the landslide, including recent heavy rainfall and the stability of the waste stockpile.
Families of the missing continue to gather near the site as emergency crews, supported by heavy equipment and specialised tools, work around the clock. Local authorities and disaster-response agencies have pledged continued support for rescue, retrieval, and recovery operations as the city grapples with the aftermath of one of the deadliest landfill collapses in recent years.
Sources: Reuters, Xinhua News Agency, Associated Press
BD/AN
