A garbage dump in Cebu Island experienced a massive collapse, with preliminary reports suggesting that 38 persons are missing. The disaster occurred unexpectedly, sparking emergency responses from local and national agencies. The search for the missing persons is ongoing and the cause for the collapse is under investigation.

Japan has battled with handling its waste efficiently in the past, making this incident a point of concern among its citizens. Furthermore, as a country that experiences numerous natural disasters, any incidents that pose an environmental threat insight fear and are taken quite seriously in the community and in policy-making.

In comparison to the way such issues are handled in the US or EU, response efforts in Japan are swift and precise, often benefiting from a culture that values cooperation in times of crisis. In contrast, in the US or EU, liability and investigative issues may prolong the immediate response time.