Garbage Mountain Collapses in Rodriguez, Rizal — 3 Bulldozer Operators Buried, Rescued Alive
A massive pile of garbage collapsed at a privately owned sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal last Friday, burying three bulldozer operators under heaps of trash. The good news: all three were rescued alive by their co-workers and have since been treated and sent home.
Rodriguez Police Chief Lt. Col. Arwyn Gaffud told media that the incident happened around 4 p.m. at Sitio 1B, Harangan, in Barangay San Isidro. The three victims were inside their heavy equipment vehicles, leveling garbage, when the pile gave way and their bulldozer slid down a ravine of trash.
What’s alarming is that police only learned about the collapse two days later — the foreman reported it to authorities on Sunday. Earlier reports on social media claimed up to 50 people were missing, but Gaffud said those claims are unverified and no one has come to the station to report a missing relative as of Sunday evening.
The landfill is operated by International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. (ISWIMS). The Rizal Provincial Government was quick to distance itself, clarifying that despite bearing the province’s name, the landfill is privately owned and managed. They’ve called on the DENR to investigate.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense earlier reported that three scavengers were feared dead in the collapse. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. Nakakatakot talaga — this incident raises serious questions about safety standards at the country’s landfills.
Source: Manila Bulletin
