CEBU CITY — Rescuers have confirmed eight fatalities from the Binaliw landfill collapse in Cebu City as search and rescue teams continue working under dangerous conditions days after the incident.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said that as of 8:10 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, recovery teams had retrieved eight bodies, including the latest, which are two female victims.
He added that authorities have accounted for all confirmed fatalities so far, but many individuals remain missing beneath the collapsed garbage mound.
Tumulak reported that the Philippine Army deployed 38 personnel from the 525th Engineering Battalion of the Combat Engineer Regiment from Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, along with 10 chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) personnel from the Army’s Tarlac base.
These teams joined local responders in the ongoing operations at the site.
Although city officials earlier expressed hope of completing search and rescue efforts soon, Tumulak said the operation is unlikely to end within the week because of persistent safety risks.
“Mayor Nestor Archival said a while ago that the search and rescue will continue,” Tumulak, in mixed Cebuano and English, told the media on Sunday night.
Rescue teams face multiple hazards at the site, including foul odors, methane gas trapped beneath the landfill, steel debris embedded in compacted waste and continuous rainfall that further destabilizes the area.
Tumulak said health risks from the stench of garbage pose the first major challenge, followed by the presence of methane gas underneath the landfill and steel debris mixed with heavily compacted waste that cannot be easily cut through.
He added that rainfall remains another major concern for responders.
He also said the operation has taken a psychological toll on rescuers, who frequently encounter grieving families waiting for news about missing relatives.
Tumulak said the emotional and psychological distress on responders is real, especially as they witness families desperate to recover their loved ones.
To limit health risks and prevent exhaustion, the city deployed responders in rotating shifts, allowing them to work on-site for one hour before pulling out to rest.
City officials, together with Mayor Nestor Archival, have repeatedly reminded rescue teams to prioritize safety while continuing retrieval efforts.
The landfill collapse has disrupted Cebu City’s waste management system and prompted the city government to suspend policy reforms.
On Sunday, Jan. 11, Archival announced the postponement of the full implementation of the “no segregation, no collection” policy, which the city originally planned to enforce on Feb. 1.
Archival said the city deferred the policy to address immediate logistical and humanitarian concerns following the collapse, which initially killed six people, left 31 missing and halted landfill operations.
The city also expects increased garbage generation during the upcoming Sinulog 2026 festivities.
Despite the delay, Archival emphasized that the city remains committed to waste management reform.
Cebu City collects about P100 million annually from garbage fees, far below its P550 million to P600 million yearly spending on garbage-related services.
With much of the city budget allocated to social services such as hospitalization, scholarships, senior citizen benefits and health programs, officials see efficient waste management as essential to controlling costs.
