The death toll from the massive landslide at Binaliw landfill in Cebu City, Philippines, has climbed to 35, with only one person still unaccounted for, local officials have said.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who is also the chair of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), confirmed the update on Saturday, noting that the search and rescue operations will continue until the last missing person is found.
In a message to ABS-CBN News, Tumulak called the near-completion of the rescue efforts as a “Santo Niño’s miracle,” as Cebu also holds Fiesta Señor — an annual religious event in the city that honors Santo Niño de Cebu (the Holy Child Jesus).
The tragedy occurred on January 8 when a huge mountain of accumulated garbage collapsed at the private Binaliw landfill in Barangay Binaliw, burying workers and scavengers under tons of waste.
At the time of the collapse, roughly 110 people were at the site, many of them sanitation workers and informal waste pickers.
President Marcos vows aid
As the city grapples with the aftermath of the landslide, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured that the national government is providing aid to victims and their families, including burial assistance and other forms of support.
He also emphasized that authorities are committed to a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
Earlier, Cebu City declared a state of calamity, allowing the local government to access emergency funds to assist victims’ families and support relief operations.
A day of mourning has also been observed, with flags flown at half-mast and prayers offered for the victims.
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Authorities blame poor waste management
Cebu City officials and the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have cited poor waste management, repeated mountain cutting, soil mining, and garbage piled beyond safe limits as the reasons that might have triggered the deadly landslide at the Binaliw landfill.
The operator of the 20-hectare landfill, Razon-owned Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc., however suggested that the collapse may have been caused by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in September 2025, which could have weakened the ground beneath the towering trash piles.
The company is currently under a cease‑and‑desist order, while rescue and retrieval operations continue.
To ease pressure on residents and local establishments, the city also is temporarily sending its daily 500 to 600 tons of garbage to the Asian Energy facility in Consolacion, Philippine Star reported.
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