Rodriguez: Rescuers have recovered one body, while two remain missing in a trash slide that occurred at a sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal on February 20. In a Monday flag ceremony, Mayor Ronnie Evangelista stated that the recovery operation continues for the two missing persons.

According to Philippines News Agency, Evangelista explained that the recovery effort is proceeding slowly and manually due to the hazardous conditions of the area. He emphasized the challenges faced in retrieving the missing individuals, noting the complexities involved in navigating a mountain of garbage compared to an ordinary landslide.

The landfill, operated by Green Leap Solid Waste Management, Inc., was not affected by rain but by the weight of bulldozers compacting waste, which triggered the trash slide. Evangelista mentioned that initial investigations suggest the concentration of three or four bulldozers in a specific section of the landfill led to the incident.

Bulldozer operators who were injured after jumping from their equipment are now recovering in the hospital. Evangelista also refuted reports claiming that at least 100 people were buried in the trash slide, clarifying that other sections of the landfill remain operational except for the affected phase.

While the local government is conducting its own investigation, Evangelista acknowledged that only the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has the authority to suspend or shut down the landfill's operations. The DENR has instructed its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to conduct an immediate investigation and implement stabilization measures, such as leveling and sloping the eroded area to prevent further instability.