Landfill collapse kills workers in Philippines
Search continues after rain-soaked waste slide buries homes
Rescuers intensified search-and-rescue operations after a slope at the Binaliw landfill in central Philippines collapsed, burying workers and nearby homes under a mass of waste and soil. Authorities say about 110 people were at the site when the failure occurred; teams have recovered multiple bodies and pulled survivors from the debris, while many others remain missing. Official counts reported six confirmed dead and dozens unaccounted for as emergency crews, supported by soldiers, police and volunteers, worked with heavy machinery and hand tools amid unstable ground and the risk of further slides.
Witnesses recounted a loud rumble as saturated slopes—weakened by days of heavy rain—gave way, sending garbage and earth downhill and overwhelming houses within roughly 300 metres of the landfill. Local officials ordered evacuations of surrounding neighborhoods, suspended landfill operations and called in engineers to assess site stability. Temporary shelters were established and medical teams deployed, with psychological support offered to displaced families and injured residents.
The collapse exposed vulnerabilities in local waste management and the dangers faced by communities living near landfills, prompting calls for a thorough investigation from environmental groups and lawmakers who say warnings about unsafe conditions had been neglected. Authorities urged the public to stay clear of the area so emergency crews could work safely and efficiently as they raced to find the missing.
Relatives of victims mourned and appealed for assistance. One husband described racing to the landfill after seeing people flee and finding his wife buried beneath collapsed structures; he said she remained trapped for more than a day before rescuers recovered her body. He urged help to support their three children’s education after losing the family’s main breadwinner.
Search teams continued methodical clearance of debris, balancing speed with caution to avoid triggering further collapses. Several bodies were recovered early in the operation and survivors were rescued, but officials warned the death toll could climb as efforts proceed. The disaster has focused attention on the deadly consequences of infrastructure failures compounded by extreme weather, highlighting the need to reassess safety measures and emergency preparedness for communities in flood-prone and densely populated areas.
