Families of missing workers are enduring an agonizing wait as search and retrieval operations continue around the clock at the site of the deadly Binaliw landfill collapse in Cebu City. The incident, which occurred on Friday, January 9, 2026, has already claimed five lives, with more than 30 individuals still unaccounted for.
Mayor's Preliminary Assessment Points to Natural Disasters
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, speaking on January 9, provided an initial assessment of the catastrophe. As a licensed engineer, he suggested that the powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake on September 30, 2025, followed by the heavy rains of Typhoon Tino on November 4, likely played a crucial role in weakening the landfill's structure.
"We experienced an earthquake that shook the ground, and then we were hit by Typhoon Tino, which brought an enormous amount of rain," Archival stated. He emphasized that these findings are preliminary and that formal investigations by concerned agencies are ongoing to confirm the exact causes.
How Water and Waste Led to Catastrophe
Mayor Archival explained that the combination of seismic activity and prolonged water saturation could have critically compromised the landfill's foundation. "Garbage behaves like a sponge—it absorbs water, which then accumulates underneath," he said, describing how this saturation increases vulnerability to structural failure and catastrophic landslides.
This view was echoed by City Councilor Joel Garganera, who earlier noted that persistent recent rainfall, combined with the sheer volume of waste at the site, likely triggered the landslide. He explained that continuous rain gradually weakened the ground until it gave way under the immense weight of the accumulated garbage.
Ongoing Response and Future Implications
Emergency responders, heavy equipment operators, and rescue personnel remain on-site, working tirelessly to recover victims and secure the area. Mayor Archival assured the public and affected families that the city government is coordinating closely with the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) to ensure operations are safe and efficient.
The Binaliw landfill, which serves as Cebu City's primary disposal site, receives hundreds of tons of solid waste daily from households and businesses. In light of the tragedy, the city government has pledged to review and strengthen its waste management practices to prevent similar disasters in the future.
As authorities continue their investigation into the precise causes of the collapse, the community's focus remains on the search efforts and the anxious families holding onto hope for their missing loved ones.
