Rain Deepens Misery of Deadly Garbage Collapse in Philippines

Steady rain hampered the search Thursday for at least 155 people believed buried by a mountain of rotting garbage that crashed down on a squatters’ neighborhood in the Philippines.

At least 137 people were confirmed dead in Monday’s collapse.

Trucks continued to unload more trash at Manila’s largest dump as hundreds of soldiers and volunteers shoveled through tons of waste in search of victims.

Residents blamed officials for the tragedy, saying they shouldn’t have allowed the mountain of garbage to reach seven stories high.

After four days of digging, rescuers held out little hope of finding anyone alive. Military officials say that by now, the methane gas produced by the garbage has probably killed anyone beneath it.

“We are calling this a search and retrieve operation, no more search and rescue,” said Tess Usapdin, a spokeswoman at the International Committee of the Red Cross. “After several days, only a miracle can keep them alive.”

Heavy rain flooded the area Thursday, soaking the garbage and the mud underneath and making the search more difficult, Usapdin said.

For several years, Manila has faced a growing garbage crisis as surrounding towns have refused to allow dumps to be built. A clean-air measure passed last year forbids the use of garbage incinerators.

Ronaldo Zamora, President Joseph Estrada’s chief aide, said the government is trying to persuade officials of nearby provinces to open dump sites for garbage from metropolitan Manila.

“We are hopeful that the leaders of these provinces will see the need and that this is for the good of all,” Zamora said.