MANILA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Search and rescue operations are continuing in the central Philippine city of Cebu, a week after a landfill collapsed on Jan. 8, killing at least 25 people and leaving 11 others still missing, authorities said Thursday.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said rescuers have not officially shifted to a retrieval-only phase despite the passage of time and the difficult conditions at the site, out of respect for the families of the missing.
"Most families are still hoping their relatives are alive, and we are also praying for miracles as the search for survivors continues," Tumulak said in a radio interview.
The incident occurred at a privately operated landfill in the city on the late afternoon of Jan. 8, when a massive mound of garbage collapsed, burying a facility and many workers.
As of Thursday night, the city's Bureau of Fire Protection confirmed 25 fatalities, while 11 individuals remain unaccounted for. Authorities earlier reported that 18 injured workers were rescued in the first few days after the collapse.
Rescue teams, including firefighters, coast guard, and military personnel, continue to face hazardous conditions at the site, such as unstable ground, methane gas buildup, and narrow tunnels beneath tons of compacted waste.
In response to the disaster, the Cebu City Council declared a state of calamity, enabling the release of emergency funds to support search-and-rescue operations and address the resulting waste-disposal crisis.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued an immediate cease-and-desist order against the landfill operator, citing possible lapses in monitoring and safety protocols.
Families of the missing workers continue to hold vigil at the site, hoping and praying for positive news. ■