Vietnam: On December 17, 2024, Vietnamese news outlet VN Express reported that in an operation to speed up the reopening of the Nha Trang-Da Lat highway, which was hampered by a giant boulder weighing more than 450 tons that rolled down the mountain onto the national highway, construction workers used 17 kilograms of explosives to successfully break the boulder on Monday night.
A giant rock, more than 4 meters high and more than 6 meters long, rolled down a mountainside and fell halfway down a mountainside road along National Road 27C in Son Thai commune, Khanh Vien district, Khanh Pha province. In addition to the large rock, many mudslides and boulders have also blocked the national road, causing travel from the coastal tourist city of Nha Trang to the city of Da Lat in Lam Dong province to be completely suspended.
Please note that National Road 27C is 121 kilometers long and is the main road connecting Da Lat with Nha Trang, with small and large vehicles often choosing this road to travel between the two cities. However, the road passes through the 33-kilometer Khanh Le Pass, a place prone to landslides during the rainy season.
Mr. Chu Van An The deputy head of Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Transport said that several days of continuous heavy rain in the area caused a massive landslide that occurred on Sunday. As of Tuesday, An said there were still two landslide sites about 10 kilometers apart and cracks about 20 meters long were found on the road, indicating the risk of landslides. Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provincial authorities have installed warning signs and protective lines to prevent accidents at the sites while experts monitor the situation and find solutions.
In addition to the two major rockfalls and landslides along the Khanh Le mountainside road, six other medium-sized landslides were reported at a distance of 4-6 km from each other, with the landslides measuring about 200-300 m3 and 10-20 m long.
The incidents have left more than 260 tourists stranded, prompting authorities in Lam Dong and Khanh Pha provinces to send troops through the jungle to bring them food. And rescued them to a safe place.
From Sunday to Tuesday, both local authorities and specialized units continue to operate actively using all means To clear the tons of mud and rocks from the road as soon as possible, the road connecting the two areas is being reopened, but the heavy rain that continues to fall is the main obstacle.
According to the Vietnam Meteorological Department, Khanh Hoa and neighboring provinces have received 150 to 200 millimeters of rain per day for several days in a row, causing flooding in some areas, including dozens of landslides.
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