The death toll from the landslide at a landfill in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City has climbed to 17, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection in Region 7 Central Visayas.
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said that 14 of the fatalities have already been identified.
Search and rescue operations have been ongoing since Thursday last week, when the landslide struck the landfill site.
Following the incident, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) in Central Visayas ordered the suspension of operations at the facility operated by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc.
Prime Waste Solutions (PWS) Cebu said it is coordinating with government agencies and the local government to provide assistance to those affected. The company also confirmed that operations at the landfill have been halted.
The operator added that it will continue to release updates as information becomes available, stressing that the safety of its workers, contractors, and nearby communities remains its top priority.