Cebu city: The city government of Cebu clings to hope as signs of life have been detected under the trash slide in Binaliw sanitary landfill, even as the death toll has risen to 11. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. said the province is still in search and rescue mode, five days after the landfill collapsed on Jan. 8.

According to Philippines News Agency, Archival mentioned that Apex mining's equipment revealed signs of life beneath the rubble, despite the lapse of the critical 72-hour rescue period. Rescuers continue their efforts to find 25 missing persons, while 18 individuals are receiving treatment in hospitals.

Archival emphasized the necessity of conducting rescue operations cautiously due to the hazardous conditions and the risk of further landslides. The collapsed structure, a materials recovery facility (MRF), is made of interconnected steel, posing a risk that moving one section might trap more victims.

The mayor acknowledged the families' pleas for expedited operations but highlighted safety concerns that have slowed the pace. He noted that larger equipment had only arrived recently, initially limiting efforts to smaller machinery to minimize further collapse risks.

A formal investigation into the incident's cause has not yet commenced, but initial assessments suggest recent natural events, such as a September earthquake and Typhoon Tino in November, might have contributed to ground instability. Although weather conditions were favorable on the day of the collapse, officials suspect these calamities weakened the site's foundation.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a cease-and-desist order against Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc., the landfill's operator. The DENR has pledged a comprehensive, impartial investigation to identify the causes of the incident, determine responsibilities and accountabilities, and recommend necessary changes moving forward.