The tragic landslide at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City has now claimed the lives of six individuals, authorities confirmed on Sunday, January 11, 2026. This marks a somber update after four days of intense search and rescue operations following the initial collapse on Thursday, January 8.
Search Continues Amidst Shifting Numbers
Rescue teams are facing a perilous situation as they work to locate approximately 30 workers who remain missing. The most recent victims recovered from the rubble were identified as Jane, 39, and Armi, 43. Their bodies were found in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Following a rigorous data validation process by the Philippine National Police (PNP), the official count of workers involved has been adjusted. As of Sunday morning, 48 landfill workers have been accounted for, a revision from the initial report of 50 people.
Breakdown of the Validated Casualties
From this validated total, the situation breaks down into three groups. Twelve workers were injured and successfully rescued, while the six confirmed fatalities were all employees of the landfill operator. Their remains have been transferred to Funeral Homes in Imus for proper identification and disposition.
Of the 30 individuals still unaccounted for, authorities estimate that 23 are employees of Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, the landfill operator, while the remaining seven are from a subcontracting company.
The injured are receiving medical care, with 12 victims at North General Hospital and another six at VisMed Medical Center. Doctors continue to monitor all patients closely.
Authorities Correct Initial Reports, Remain Hopeful
The validation process led to important corrections in the casualty list. Authorities confirmed that Wilmer Maquilan, initially listed among the victims, was not on duty during the incident and is alive. A duplicate entry for a person named Remelyn Pasay was also identified and removed.
Despite the grim developments, officials maintain hope. Cebu City Councilor and Chairman of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Dave Tumulak, expressed a continued belief in miracles during a statement on Sunday. "We believed in miracle, everytime duna ma makuha nga patay, magool sad responders, malipay lang sila ug naa makuha buhi, ug safe sila pagsud ug paggawas sa ruble," Tumulak said, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster for rescue teams.
Heavy Machinery Deployed for Dangerous Recovery
To aid in the treacherous recovery effort, a 50-ton crane has been deployed to the landslide site. Rescuers are also conducting beam-cutting operations using oxy-acetylene equipment to clear heavy metal structures blocking access to deeper parts of the collapse.
Officials state that once these large metal obstructions are removed, it will be safer for rescue personnel to enter the area and continue the retrieval operations. The combined search, rescue, and verification missions are ongoing as responders brave the dangerous conditions at the landfill site.
