Danger Mounts at Binaliw Landfill as Rescuers Risk Lives to Find the Missing
BINALIW – With every passing hour, the search at the Binaliw landfill becomes more dangerous, as rescuers battle rain, unstable debris, and toxic gases.
The death toll from the devastating landslide at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City has risen to six after authorities recovered two more bodies early Sunday morning, underscoring the growing danger and complexity of the ongoing rescue operation.
Officials confirmed that the two latest fatalities were women who were discovered buried deep beneath massive piles of debris at the collapsed dump site. One victim was found trapped under a heavy beam, while another was located beneath a large sorting machine, highlighting the hazardous conditions faced by search and rescue teams on the ground.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak emphasized that the recovery of the bodies underscored just how risky the operation had become.
“One victim was under a beam while one under a sorting machine. It is so risky for the rescuers,”
said Tumulak in Cebuano.
Rescue efforts have been significantly hampered by continuous rainfall that has soaked the area since Saturday afternoon. The wet conditions have made the trash mound even more unstable, raising concerns about possible further collapses. Despite these dangers, responders have continued working nonstop, driven by the urgency of locating the missing.
According to Tumulak, the harsh weather has taken a toll on the rescue teams, but their determination remains strong.
“The rescue teams are all wet but they still continue. We cannot stop, the families are waiting,”
added Tumulak.
As of the latest update, 31 individuals are still missing, while 12 survivors have been pulled from the site and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. To reduce risks, the landfill operator has deployed a safety officer to closely monitor the trash mound for any signs of movement that could pose a threat to rescuers.
However, the slow and delicate nature of the operation has left many families exhausted and distressed.
“We are so tired. We have no sleep,”
Photo Source: Inquirer
Rescuers have adjusted their strategy by using acetylene to cut through buried metal beams, a process made even more dangerous by the presence of methane and carbon gases from the decomposing garbage.
“With one wrong move, our rescuer might also be trapped under the rubble,”
Tumulak also said.
Authorities emphasized that operations are now fully focused on search, rescue, and retrieval, as the site remains extremely perilous.
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