MANILA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Three people went missing after a pile of waste gave way at a landfill in Rizal province, east of Manila, authorities said Sunday.
Rodriguez town Mayor Ronnie Evangelista confirmed in a social media post that three individuals remain unaccounted for following the incident that occurred in the town on Friday afternoon. However, the mayor declined to declare them dead, noting that their bodies have yet to be recovered.
"Search and investigation efforts regarding the incident are still ongoing," Evangelista said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Philippines' lead body for disaster preparedness, response and recovery, said it is validating reports that the missing individuals were scavengers present at the site when the collapse occurred.
The incident prompted search operations in nearby communities as responders worked to locate the missing and assess potential risks posed by the unstable waste mound.
Authorities continue monitoring the situation while verification efforts remain underway. ■