A landslide struck the Barangay Binaliw landfill in Cebu City on January 8, 2026, leaving 38 people missing and one dead. Officials attributed the collapse of the materials recovery facility to soil softened by continuous rainfall. Rescue operations continue as families await updates on their loved ones.
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, around 4 p.m., a landslide occurred at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City, affecting the materials recovery facility (MRF). Initial reports indicate 38 people missing, one dead, and 12 rescued. Officials explained that continuous rainfall saturated the soil where large quantities of waste were dumped, leading to the collapse.
Belen Antigua, a resident of Sitio Kainsikan in Binaliw, told Rappler that her son survived but they are still waiting for other relatives. “Ang nakita namo sa basura kay dili na gyud siya safe diha (What we saw with the garbage was that it really wasn’t safe there),” she said. The landfill serves as the primary drop point for Cebu City's garbage since 2019, initially managed by ARN Central Waste Management Incorporated and taken over in 2023 by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Incorporated, a subsidiary of tycoon Enrique Razon’s Prime Infra.
Before becoming a landfill, the area was used to grow mango trees and other vegetation. Many residents from Barangay Binaliw and neighboring villages work in waste management there. As early as 8 a.m. on Friday, January 9, family members gathered at the landfill entrance, awaiting updates on rescue operations.
“The families here looking for their children have been here since this morning,” said Binaliw resident Junel Arcilla to Rappler. He confirmed some neighbors are landfill workers and noted that around 4 p.m. on Thursday, workers shouted warnings to machine operators, but the noise from machinery drowned them out. Residents have long complained about the landfill’s “intense and foul odor.” In September 2024, 156 Binaliw residents signed a petition urging the city government to address the odor and health concerns from the site's proximity to homes. Rescue efforts remain ongoing.
