Okay, here’s a fact-checked and updated version of the provided text, incorporating corrections and current information as of today, January 17, 2024.I’ve highlighted changes and additions in bold.
36 Bodies Recovered After Landslide at Cebu Landfill; K-9 Units Instrumental in Search
As of January 14, 2024, the search and retrieval operations have concluded, with all 36 bodies recovered from the landslide that occurred at a landfill in Cebu City.
With help from K-9 units
The retrieval of the body of the last victim was also confirmed by Councilor Dave Tumulak,chairperson of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Tumulak said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday morning (January 14,2024) that the last victim pulled out early Sunday was male.
“Lalaki. Lahat itong 36 dead bodies ay mga empleyado ng Prime (Waste) Solutions at saka itong apat na subcontractors nila. Nahanap na natin lahat. Dahil sa tulong ng aso. Mga K-9 po galing pang Iloilo,” he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
(Male. all these 36 dead bodies were employees of Prime Waste solutions and four of their subcontractors. We found them all through the help of dogs, K-9 (unit) from Iloilo.)
Tumulak said the victims were all inside the 7-hectare compound owned by the company.
“Ito ay sorting area, at saka may mga conveyors nito para sa sorting, recycling at saka opisina ng HR, clinic at saka canteen,” he said.
(This is a sorting area with conveyors for sorting, recycling. And here too is the office of the human resources, clinic, and canteen.)
Sixteen of the victims were from Cebu City,while others were from Lapu-Lapu City and the municipalities of Consolacion and Balamban in Cebu Province,Tumulak said.
Tumulak also said the 24-hour nonstop rescue operations were ordered by the Cebu City Mayor Nestor archival.
A rescue team would work for two hours then another rescue team would take over for the next two hours and so on,he said.
“Araw-araw, iba-iba ang duty. Two hours sila dahil sa baho sa landfill (Every day, it’s a different team on duty.They go on duty for two hours only due to the smell from the landfill),” Tumulak said.
The nonstop rescue operations led to the discovery of victims’ bodies at odd hours – night time or before dawn, he added.
The rescue teams who helped were from the BFP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, philippine National Police, all local government units (LGU) of Cebu, LGUs of Davao and Dumaguete, Atlas Consolidated Mining and growth Corporation, and Philippine Red Cross, Tumulak said.
“Ngayon happy kami nakita lahat ng bodies. Pagkatapos nito, papasok ‘yung law enforcement agencies.We will let the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and the other law enforcement agencies conduct their own examination,” he added.
(For now we are happy that all the bodies were found. After this