Philippine landfill collapse: Cebu City placed under state of calamity as death toll climbs to 13
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As at 5pm on Jan 13, the death toll of a landfill collapse in Cebu City had risen to 13.
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CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu City has been placed under a state of calamity after the deadly collapse at the Binaliw landfill
As at 5pm on Jan 13, the death toll had risen to 13 after rescue teams recovered five more bodies since the afternoon of Jan 12, the authorities said.
Cebu City councillor David Tumulak, who chairs the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, reported that two bodies were retrieved on Jan 12 and another in the morning of Jan 13.
According to Mr Tumulak, the first victim, a 48-year-old woman, was recovered around 4pm on Jan 12, followed an hour later by a 57-year-old woman.
He said the 11th victim, a 50-year-old woman, was recovered in the morning of Jan 13, while the latest recoveries included a 47-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man.
“All of them have been identified by their families. Our search and retrieval operations are continuing,” Mr Tumulak told the Inquirer.
Rescue efforts remain at ‘low intensity’
Mr Tumulak, together with councillor Joel Garganera, who chairs the committee on environment, pushed for the resolution declaring the state of calamity, which the city council approved on Jan 12.
The declaration allows the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund to be used in support of ongoing search and retrieval operations.
Mayor Nestor Archival Jr said search-and-rescue efforts at Binaliw remain at a “low intensity” level after equipment from Davao Mining, which is assisting in the operations, detected possible signs of life.
According to the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, 25 people remain missing, and 18 were injured in the landfill collapse that occurred on Jan 8.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government said responders are maintaining a sustained presence and conducting systematic operations to locate the missing.
Halt order
Asked about inspecting other landfills managed by local governments, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla told dzRH on Jan 13: “We will do that. It is part of our agenda.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) issued a cease-and-desist order against the private landfill, temporarily closing the facility.
Compliance plan
After a Jan 9 inspection, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of DENR-7 issued the order against Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, citing violations of EMB Memorandum Circular No. 2007-002.
Landfill operations were halted, except for activities related to rescue, retrieval and clean-up.
The company has been instructed to attend a technical conference to clarify facts about the incident and submit a compliance plan within 90 days.
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
