Dozens missing after deadly Philippines landfill collapse
At least four people were confirmed dead after the major landslide at a landfill in Cebu City, Philippines
A major collapse at a landfill in Cebu City, Philippines, on Thursday killed at least four people and left dozens more missing.
Authorities detected “signs of life” in the debris over the weekend, the city’s mayor posted on Facebook on Saturday. He added that hundreds of personnel and a 50-tonne crane were dispatched to the scene to conduct search and rescue efforts.
Mayor Nestor Archival added in another social media post that 110 landfill employees were affected by the collapse. At least three-dozen workers were missing as of Saturday, with 12 additional employees hospitalized. Officials confirmed at least four fatalities in the incident.
The cause of the sudden collapse is currently unknown, though numerous media reports indicate that weather conditions at the time likely did not play a role.
Landslides and collapses are a serious concern at landfills around the world. Similar collapses have killed hundreds of people in the past, including one in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in March 2017, as well as another near Quezon City, Philippines, back in July 2000.