One Dead and Over 30 Missing in Philippines Cebu Landfill Collapse

A mountain of trash gave way, turning a workplace into a disaster zone within seconds. On January 8, 2026, a massive garbage slide at a landfill in Cebu City, Philippines, killed a 22-year-old woman and left more than 30 people missing.

Ongoing Rescue Efforts After Philippines Cebu Landfill Collapse

Rescuers are racing against the clock at the Binaliw Landfill. According to reports from ABS-CBN, teams pulled 12 injured sanitation workers from the debris, but many more remain trapped. Cebu Mayor Nestor Archival stated on Friday that the search is exceptionally difficult because the bottom of the waste pile remains soft, posing a constant risk of secondary collapses.

Approximately 300 personnel from various government agencies are currently deployed to the 15-hectare privately-owned site. Several excavators and fire trucks are assisting in the search and retrieval operations as families wait anxiously for updates on their loved ones.

Questions Raised Over Waste Management Practices

While the official cause is still under investigation, local authorities point to negligence. Cebu City Councillor Joel Garganera told 'The Freeman' that the tragedy was likely the result of poor waste management. He alleged that operators had been mining soil from the mountain and piling garbage to form unstable 'waste mountains,' effectively operating an open dumpsite rather than a sanitary landfill.