More bodies recovered from collapsed dumpsite; death toll rises to 28
RESPONDERS continue to search for missing victims at the collapsed dumpsite in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City. (BFP-7)
CEBU CITY – Heavy rains poured all day here on Friday, Jan. 16, but efforts to find missing victims at the collapsed dumpsite in Barangay Binaliw continued.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), said search and rescue operations continued despite the inclement weather caused by tropical depression ‘’Ada.’’
Tumulak said more bodies were recovered on Friday, raising the number of fatalities to 28 while eight victims remain missing.
Tumulak defended rescuers from criticisms over the supposed slow pace of the rescue operations.
“The rescuers are determined to find all victims and end this so that they can also go home,” said Tumulak.
The landfill collapsed on Thursday afternoon, pinning down an office of Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc., the company that operates the facility.
Several workers were buried by the avalanche of garbage.
Tumulak said retrieving the victims has become challenging as responders are working over unstable layers of compacted garbage, twisted metal, toxic fumes, and flood-prone areas.
Heavy equipment such as cranes and backhoes were deployed in the area but had to be used sparingly to avoid possible collapses.