AT LEAST 38 workers were buried under hazardous waste following a collapse of a privately-owned and operated landfill in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City.
According to the local government, a woman died even before reaching the hospital, while 38 other individuals have yet to be found by the search and rescue teams. Twelve were injured.
Local media reported that the workers were trapped in an avalanche of garbage and debris from a waste management facility owned by Prime Waste Solutions Cebu.
The rescuers deployed by the Cebu City government, however, admitted difficulties in searching for the missing individuals in view of “hazardous conditions.”
In a report which appeared on Sky News, Councillor Joel Garganera, chair of the city council’s environment committee, expressed serious concern on the search and rescue operation.
“The steel trusses are massive, the garbage is soft, and there is a constant risk of movement… there is also a serious concern about toxic air, which could endanger anyone trapped for too long,” Garganera was quoted as saying.
One of the injured landfill workers named Joey Boy Gealon, recounted hearing screams and loud crashing sounds.
According to Gealon, they have long been warning Prime Waste Solutions Cebu about the formation of a trashhill at the dumpsite.
In a statement, Prime Waste Solutions Cebu said: “The safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors, and neighbouring communities remain our top priority.”
One of the buildings hit by the wall of debris which cascaded down in the landfill was a warehouse where workers separate recyclable waste and rubbish, said Central Visayas regional police command Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan.
gosh, how scary