A fatal landslide early on Saturday morning in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam claimed the lives of at least 11 people and left four injured.
Authorities said that the exact number of people being buried in the landslide remains unknown.
Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, a local official of Ha Giang’s Bac Me District confirmed that the body of the 11th deceased victim was recovered by the afternoon of the same day.
The four injured, including one child and three adults, were rushed to the Ha Giang Provincial General Hospital for emergency treatment, with their health condition stable now, the hospital’s leader told Tuoi Tre.
Rescuers carry a victim out of the scene of a fatal landslide in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam, July 13, 2024. Photo: Supplied |
A Ford Transit, with 16 occupants, encountered a landslide-hit road section when it was approaching a National Highway 34 section in Bac Me’s Yen Dinh Commune at around 4:00 am, according to local authorities.
The National Highway 34 links Ha Giang with neighboring Cao Bang Province.
When all of the occupants got out of the car to team up with some passers-by to push the vehicle stuck in the mud, a mountainside suddenly collapsed, sending thousands of cubic meters of earth and debris onto the road and burying all of them.
Rescuers are searching for the victims of a fatal landslide in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam, July 13, 2024. Photo: Supplied |
A search and rescue operation was quickly launched shortly after the incident, with the participation of more than 100 rescuers and healthcare workers.
At the scene of the incident, an estimated 50,000 cubic meters of mud and debris fell onto the road section.
Tran Duc Quy, vice-chairman of the Ha Giang administration, said that he had visited and offered financial support to the injured and the bereaved families.
The scene of a fatal landslide which killed at least 11 people and injured four in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam, July 13, 2024. Photo: Supplied |
Ambulances are approaching the scene of the fatal landslide. Photo: Supplied |
Rescuers bring a victim out of the scene of the fatal landslide. Photo: Supplied |
A landslide-hit victim is taken into an ambulance. Photo: Supplied |
A screenshot of a video clip showing rescuers manually recovering the body of a landslide-hit baby boy. Photo: Supplied |
Nguyen Van Giao (in blue T-shirt), director of the Health Department in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam, visits a victim who suffered injuries in the fatal landslide. Photo: Supplied |
Competent forces are conducting a search and rescue operation. Photo: Supplied |
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!