MANILA – The body of the last remaining missing person in the Jan. 8 landfill landslide in the central Philippine city of Cebu was retrieved early Sunday, bringing the total number of victims who perished in the tragedy to 36, the country’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.
In a social media post, the BFP said all reported missing individuals had been accounted for as of 5:41 am local time on Sunday, marking the completion of search, rescue, and retrieval operations nearly two weeks after the incident.
“Responding teams have completed systematic search, rescue, and retrieval operations, ensuring that no further missing persons remain,” the bureau said, adding that coordination among ground units and partner agencies remains in effect as post-operation assessments and site monitoring continue.
The victims were among workers trapped inside a facility when a portion of a dumpsite collapsed on Jan 8, sweeping the structure in its path.
Cebu City officials said 18 people were rescued from the incident, all of whom sustained injuries. Of those injured, 14 have since been discharged from hospitals.
Authorities said they will continue to monitor the site while assessing safety conditions and reviewing protocols following the deadly collapse.