CEBU CITY – The death toll in the collapsed dumpsite in Barangay Binaliw here increased to 13 as two more fatalities were recovered on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 13.

SFO3 Wendell Villanueva, information officer of the Cebu City Fire Department, said rescuers are still searching for 23 persons believed to have been trapped under a structure that was pinned down after a mound of garbage caved in on Thursday, Jan. 8.

The victims were workers of Prime Integrated Water Solutions Inc. (PIWSI), the private company that operates the dumpsite.

The collapsed structure is mostly made of metals, prompting rescuers to use heavy equipment like cranes and backhoes to clear the rubble.

As search and rescue operations continue, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Central Visayas (DENR-7) has issued a cease-and-desist order against PIWSI.

“The company has been called to a technical conference to establish facts and submit compliance within 90 days,” the DENR-7 said.

With the order issued against the company, only rescue, retrieval, and cleanup activities will be allowed in the area.

“We are committed to a thorough and impartial investigation to determine the causes of the tragedy and the accountability of all responsible parties,” the agency said.

The incident has prompted the declaration of a state of emergency in the city.

In an approved resolution filed by Councilor Joel Garganera, the declaration of the state of emergency will allow the city to allocate P30 million under the Quick Response Fund for the city to identify and secure a new disposal site as dumping of garbage at the dumpsite was halted due to the incident.