Deadly Slide Buries Passenger Bus
Rescuers in Vietnam continued searching Monday for passengers still trapped after a landslide struck a bus on the Khanh Le mountain pass late Sunday. At least six people were confirmed dead and 19 were injured after rocks and mud slammed into the front of the vehicle as it traveled along the steep, winding route connecting Da Lat and the coastal city of Nha Trang. The 20 mile pass is known for dramatic scenery but becomes hazardous during the rainy season.
State media reported that dozens of rescuers struggled to access the site due to ongoing heavy rain, managing to reach the bus only after midnight. Thirty two people were on board when the slide occurred, and authorities said two bodies remained trapped beneath debris in the unstable terrain.
Survivors Describe Chaotic Escape
The bus had departed Da Lat around 7:30 p.m., and many passengers were asleep when the hillside gave way. Survivors told VnExpress they were jolted awake by loud crashes before the bus lurched violently. One woman, returning home from her honeymoon, said she escaped through a shattered window but was unable to free her husband, who was pinned under rocks. She described how fellow passengers used hammers to smash a glass door in an attempt to reach those trapped in the wreckage.
Images from the scene showed walls of earth and boulders blocking the narrow road, underscoring the dangers facing rescue crews still working in relentless rain.
Relentless Rainfall Across Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam has been pummeled by days of torrential rain following Typhoon Kalmaegi. Forecasts call for 12 to 24 inches of rain through Wednesday, with isolated areas expected to see more than 33 inches. The extreme rainfall triggered additional landslides and flooding in mountainous areas of Hue, blocking a major north south highway and cutting off several villages. The former imperial capital has already experienced severe flooding earlier this year.
Vietnam ranks among the most flood prone countries in the world, with nearly half of its population living in high risk regions. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, increasing the scale and frequency of destructive floods and landslides.
Ongoing Risk in Mountain Regions
Authorities have urged caution as saturated soil and continuing downpours heighten the risk of further slides along mountainous routes. The Khanh Le pass, like many high elevation roads in Vietnam, becomes especially vulnerable after prolonged rain. Emergency teams remain deployed in the area as the search for the remaining victims continues under challenging conditions.