6 killed as landslide crushes passenger bus in central Vietnam

A bus destroyed by landslide on Nov. 17, 2025 in Khanh Hoa Province. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Bang

Around 10 p.m. on Sunday, a 40-seat Phuong Trang passenger bus from Ho Chi Minh City carrying 32 people (including two drivers and one assistant), was traveling on Khanh Le Pass in Khanh Hoa Province.

The bus was heading from Da Lat down toward Nha Trang.

Upon reaching the Nam Khanh Vinh section of the pass, which is prone to landslides, a large volume of earth and rocks suddenly collapsed, burying and severely damaging the front section of the bus. The impact left many people trapped inside the vehicle.

During the time of the incident, heavy rain triggered landslides on both ends of the pass, which are nearly four kilometers apart, severely hindering access to the scene.

The head of a Phuong Trang passenger bus is crushed by landslide on Khanh Le Pass in Khanh Hoa Province, Nov. 17, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Bang

The Fire Prevention and Fighting Police immediately dispatched two rescue vehicles and nearly 20 officers and soldiers to the site of the accident to coordinate with local forces. It was after midnight when the functional forces were finally able to reach the accident scene.

Le Thi Kim Hoa, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Nam Khanh Vinh Commune, said the incident resulted in six fatalities (three male, three female). Four of the deceased victims have been removed from the bus, but two victims remain trapped under the earth and rocks, and rescue efforts are ongoing.

Doctor Le Tran Anh Thi, Director of the Provincial 115 Emergency Center, reported that the unit provided emergency aid and transported 19 injured people to Khanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital. The remaining passengers who were not injured were transferred by a separate passenger bus to the Phuong Trang station in Nha Trang.

An officer from the Khanh Hoa Provincial Police stated that the accident occurred when the bus was traveling near the uphill side of the pass. When police reached the scene, earth and rocks from the mountain had crushed approximately half of the vehicle’s body, severely deforming the metal frame.

Rescue efforts faced significant challenges due to the heavy rain and signs that the mountain was still prone to landslides. As of the current time, the two bodies still trapped inside the bus are pinned down by large blocks of rock, preventing their immediate recovery.

Khanh Le Pass, which is 33 km long, is frequently affected by landslides during the rainy season. The pass is part of National Highway 27C, which connects Nha Trang and Da Lat, is 121 km long and a main route for tourist vehicles.

According to the Khanh Hoa Provincial Hydro-Meteorological Station, the province was forecast to experience moderate to very heavy rain from Nov. 16 to 18, with total rainfall ranging from 80–150 mm. Mountainous areas could see 100–200 mm, with some places exceeding 250 mm.