Rescuers are searching for 38 missing workers after a massive section of a landfill collapsed in Cebu City on Thursday afternoon, leaving at least one person dead and 12 others hospitalized.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed Friday that the landslide at the Binaliw landfill was caused by the “sheer volume of waste” piled at the facility. Of the 94 employees on-site during the incident, dozens were buried when the mountain of garbage toppled onto the facility’s administrative office.

The facility, which operates as a material recovery facility for Metro Cebu, has long been the subject of resident complaints regarding odor and environmental safety.

Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado said 70 to 80 percent of the landfill’s workforce resides in her town, which borders the site. She noted that workers had been instructed to extend their shifts until 5 p.m. Thursday to clear a backlog of waste.

“We don’t know what caused the collapse,” said Marge Parcotello, a police staff member in Consolacion. “It wasn’t raining at all.”

Meantime, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed units to assist the Bureau of Fire Protection and the military in retrieval operations and acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. disclosed that a parallel investigation will be conducted to check for compliance with safety and environmental regulations once the site is stabilized.

Archival outlined five priority actions, including focused retrieval operations and the establishment of shaded areas for families awaiting news. He promised hourly updates for relatives and confirmed the city would provide burial assistance to the family of the deceased worker.

Cebu City, a major urban hub and tourist destination, continues to struggle with waste management as the Binaliw facility remains the primary disposal site for the region.