Police in Da Lat City, a popular tourist hub of Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, have launched criminal proceedings against individuals allegedly involved in a deadly landslide that occurred on Hoang Hoa Tham Street in the city’s Ward 10 in late June.

The landslide, triggered by torrential rains, claimed the lives of two construction workers, and destroyed several houses. 

Colonel Tran Vinh Phu, head of the Da Lat City police agency, said on Sunday that after being notified of the tragedy, the agency was directed to clarify the cause of the landslide and related violations.

After three days of investigation, the police detected violations on construction safety, resulting in the prosecution against the case.

The city’s investigative police agency summoned some 20 relevant individuals for the investigation into the fatal incident.

Besides, the competent forces also examined the scene and garnered all documents associated with the land lot where an embankment was built to pinpoint the violations that caused the serious consequences.

Preliminary investigation results showed that the landslide at 36 Hoang Hoa Tham Street resulted from errors in the construction of a building on Yen The Street, which is 30 meters topographically higher than Hoang Hoa Tham Street.

The work failed to match its approved design, and meet Lam Dong Province’s regulations.

As per the regulations, an embankment is built at a height of four meters, but the embankment on Yen The Street was 10 meters high.

The building project, which saw its embankment collapse and cause soil and rocks to stumble onto houses below, was designed and constructed by Le Nguyen Lam Dong Construction Company.

Meanwhile, Ha Phat Thinh Limited Company was in charge of appraising the design of the work.

Piles of rubble at the scene of the landslide in Da Lat City. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre

A landslide destroys a house below. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre

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