Cars tumble in as Da Nang street sinks in heavy rain

The subsidence near the upcoming Capital Square 3 building occurred during heavy rain. A group of engineers and workers having coffee near the site noticed the metal sheet fence separating the site from the road tilting.

One of the engineers ran over to inspect it, but the road suddenly gave way, pulling him and two parked cars into the hole.

 

 

Cars tumble in as Da Nang street sinks in heavy rain

Hố tử thần nuốt 2 ôtô giữa trung tâm Đà Nẵng

"The engineer was pinned under a car and could not get out on his own," the owner of a nearby aquarium shop said.

"A crane was brought from the construction site to lift the vehicle and free the victim."

Under the crane’s weight, the ground subsided a bit more, but no further damage was done.

Local residents said they heard a loud bang just before the collapse.

The sinkhole swallowed the entire sidewalk and part of the road, and a car parked near the edge was left tilting inward but luckily did not fall in.

Two cars fall into a sinkhole on Nguyen Cong Tru Street in Da Nang on Dec. 3, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

By 3:30 p.m. the two damaged cars were lifted out, one with a crumpled hood and the other with bumps and scratches in its front.

The city Department of Construction issued a statement later on Wednesday explaining what had caused the subsidence.

The Capital Square 3 building is having its basement constructed, and a section of the retaining wall adjacent to the road had an opening. Heavy rains had caused water to carry sand into the construction area, eroding the foundation and breaking an underground stormwater pipe beneath the road.

Water from the broken pipe washed away the surrounding soil, causing the road surface to collapse.

The collapse of the section of Nguyen Cong Tru Street between Ngo Quyen and Tran Hung Dao intersections measured 15 meters long and 6 meters wide, the department added.

A crane pulls a car out of a sinkhole on Nguyen Cong Tru Street in Da Nang on Dec. 3, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

The building developer and construction contractors cordoned off the affected area and set up barriers to keep out people and vehicles.

The department instructed the developer to quickly assess the damage, make plans for repairs in accordance with regulations and carry them out.

At a press conference Wednesday the department's director, Nguyen Ha Nam, said the mushrooming of high-rise buildings along the Han River is putting pressure on urban management and infrastructure.

Capital Square 3 is being built by the local SIH Real Estate Co., Ltd.

The detailed causes of the sinkage and the responsibilities of various parties are being investigated further.