Landslide at Philippines Landfill Leaves Dozens Missing
A massive landslide at a landfill in the central Philippines has left 34 sanitation workers missing and one confirmed dead, officials said Friday. The collapse occurred Thursday, burying structures within the landfill where nearly 50 workers were stationed.
Authorities are hopeful some of those buried may still be alive. “There should still be signs of life,” a local mayor stated during a press conference, according to Reuters.
The landfill processes approximately 1,000 tonnes of municipal waste daily. This method of waste disposal has faced repeated criticism, particularly following a similar tragedy in manila in 2000. That landslide claimed the lives of over 200 people.
Concerns about the safety of such landfills are longstanding.Experts have warned that the sheer weight and instability of accumulated waste create a significant risk of collapse, especially during periods of heavy rainfall. Deutsche Welle reports that the Philippines struggles with waste management, and many landfills operate without adequate safety measures.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, but hampered by the scale of the debris and the potential for further landslides.
