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Hundreds of landslides block vital road in Vietnam's Lào Cai province

Hundreds of landslides block vital road in Vietnam's Lào Cai province

From Thanh Niên · () Vietnamese

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Heavy rainfall has caused hundreds of landslides along a crucial 35 km road connecting two communes in Vietnam's Lào Cai province.
  • The landslides have completely blocked the road, paralyzing traffic and significantly impacting residents' lives.
  • Local authorities are working to clear the debris with limited equipment, facing a slow recovery process due to the extensive damage.

A vital 35-kilometer road in Vietnam's Lào Cai province, connecting the centers of Mù Cang Chải and Chế Tạo communes, is impassable after recent torrential rains triggered hundreds of landslides. The deluge, particularly heavy on July 16-17, has crippled traffic and severely disrupted the daily lives of residents in the region.

Currently, the 35 km road from Mù Cang Chải commune to Chế Tạo commune remains impassable due to landslides caused by prolonged heavy rain.

— a leader of the People's Committee of Chế Tạo communeConfirming the road closure and its cause.

Initial assessments reveal over 200 points of collapse along the road, with some sections completely washed away. The village of Háng Gàng in Lao Chải commune has been the hardest hit, experiencing not only extensive landslides but also the destruction of two concrete road sections, one over 40 meters long. These collapses have left sheer cliff faces and raging torrents below, making passage extremely perilous.

After heavy rain from July 16-17, the area experienced severe landslides. Preliminary statistics show over 200 points of collapse on the mentioned road, with many sections completely washed away, paralyzing traffic.

— a leader of the People's Committee of Chế Tạo communeDescribing the extent of the damage.

Residents, repair crews, and official delegations are forced to navigate the treacherous terrain by clinging to mountainsides or scrambling up steep slopes. Authorities have deployed one excavator to clear the rubble, but the sheer volume of debris suggests a slow repair process without additional machinery and personnel. Local officials are coordinating with relevant agencies to expedite the clearing operations and restore normal life for the affected population.

In recent days, the government, in coordination with functional units, has been actively overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, increasing machinery, equipment, and construction forces to quickly open the route and help people stabilize their lives.

— a leader of the People's Committee of Chế Tạo communeDetailing the ongoing recovery efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Thanh Niên in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.