Horror as huge building collapses leaving '20 people trapped'

The building collapsed in a landslide (Image: X)

At least 20 people are reportedly trapped after a building collapsed in a landslide in Binaliw, Cebu, Philippines, on Thursday. The landfill building collapsed due to the sheer volume of waste piled at the site, councilor Joel Garganera said.

Garganera, chair of the City Council committee on environment, said the collapse occurred at around 5pm on Thursday, January 8. Search and rescue teams have rushed to the site to help the trapped victims with authorities also assessing possible damage to nearby houses. The structures roof and metal framework appear to have been crushed downward and resting on debris below.

Dramatic images show the ground is covered with rubble and scattered materials, two people can be seen looking at the wreckage in horror.

In another image a large group of emergency responders can be seen gathered by heavy machinery being used in the search and rescue operation.

In the image the damaged roof is clearly visible and behend it lies a large mound of landfill waste and earth. The Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) were also instructed to conduct a drone survey in Binaliw to determine the full extent of the collapse and assess conditions across the landfill area.

Councillor Garganera says the cause of the incident is down the the Binaliw facility being used as an open dumpsite rather than a sanitary landfill.

He said: “If you look at how this landfill operates, they cut through the mountain and mine the soil, then fill the other half with garbage. In effect, they level the mountain to create another mountain made of waste. That is the nature of this landfill".

He added that the prolonged rainfall over recent days had further weakened the waste and surrounding soil, ultimately making the collapse unavoidable.