SEARCH and retrieval operations are actively ongoing at the Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill in Rodriguez town following a partial collapse on Friday. Local authorities have confirmed that three individuals are missing, prompting environmental regulators to enforce immediate stabilization and safety measures at the site.
The incident has raised concerns about the structural integrity of the landfill and the safety protocols in place.
An amateur video clip, featured in a “24 Oras Weekend” report by Athena Imperial, captured the chaotic scene moments after the collapse. The video reveals large volumes of waste giving way, triggering fears that people may have been buried under the debris. The person recording the video expressed shock, noting the sudden screams and the sight of people falling below as the waste mass slid downwards.
Lawyer Mark Delos Reyes, spokesperson for International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. (ISWIMS), the facility’s owner and operator, stated that the collapse occurred around 3 p.m. Friday in Phase 5 of the landfill. He verified that three bulldozers were caught in the slide along with the collapsing waste mass, further complicating the search and retrieval efforts.
The incident has prompted a swift response from local and environmental authorities, who are working to ensure the safety of the search teams and prevent further collapses. The focus remains on locating the missing individuals and conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse to prevent future incidents at the Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill.
