Hanoi (VNA) – Hopes of finding survivors in the collapse at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu city, central Philippines, are fading as the critical 72-hour “golden window” following the disaster has officially passed, despite rescue teams continuing to dig through thousands of tonnes of rubbish and debris.
As reported by the Channel News Asia, the recovery of a body on January 11 brought the confirmed death toll to seven, with at least 29 people still missing.
About 50 sanitation workers were buried on January 8 when the mountain of garbage toppled onto them from an estimated height of 20 storeys at the Binaliw Landfill, a privately operated facility that handles refuse for the city of nearly one million. So far, 12 employees have been pulled alive from the garbage and hospitalised.
Rescue operations at Binaliw were repeatedly disrupted as the towering mound of waste continued to pose a high risk of further collapse, forcing authorities to suspend work several times to ensure safety. Prolonged heavy rainfall further exacerbated the danger and complexity of the site.
A public information officer said the focus was likely to shift to recovering bodies.
According to the website of operator Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, the landfill processed 1,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily./.
Philippines rushes to search for those missing in landfill landslide
Rescuers in the Philippines on January 10 are racing to find dozens of people still missing following a landslide at a landfill site which occurred in Cebu city two days earlier.
