CEBU CITY – Nine bodies have been recovered from the collapsed building that was buried by a pile of garbage when a dumpsite caved in last week in Barangay Binaliw here.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the City Council Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee, said the last fatality was recovered on Monday morning, Jan. 12.

Tumulak said 12 survivors are recuperating in the hospital while 28 remained missing.

The landfill collapsed on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 8, burying workers of Prime Integrated Waste Solutions that operates the dumpsite.

The pile of garbage collapsed on a structure where the company’s sorting area and other offices were housed.

Tumulak said the company has about 60 employees and there were 36 workers on duty when the incident happened around 4 p.m.

He said some workers had gone home while some were on day-off when the tragedy struck.

Some workers were able to run when the pile of garbage started rolling down.

“There are big conveyors in the facility that were used for sorting of garbage. Some may not be able to run because they were not able to notice the landslide because of the loud noise created by the machines,” Tumulak said.

Tumulak clarified rescuers are still in the stage of search and rescue operations.

“We are still hopeful that there are still survivors. Search and rescue operations are done 24 hours but the challenge is the metal beams that are heavy to lift,” said Tumulak.

Tumulak said rescuers were divided into four groups which take turns penetrating the rubble via four quadrants.

Each team is replaced by a new group after every one hour.

“The stench is also a big challenge. Each time rescuers emerge from the rubble, their eyes are red and that’s because of the strong stench. That’s why instead of one hour, we are suggesting a 45-minute interval because it’s dangerous for rescuers to stay long inside the rubble,” said Tumulak.

Tumulak said a 50-ton crane has arrived in the area that will help hasten rescue efforts. Sniffing dogs were also deployed in the area.

Tumulak said all efforts will be exhausted for the immediate recovery of the missing victims.

“We want this to end immediately so that the families will be at peace and to also protect the rescuers,” said Tumulak.