At around 4 a.m. Saturday, as people were trying to push a 16-seat van out from being stuck on a National Highway 34 section through Bac Me District, 50,000 m3 of rubbles rushed down from the mountainside and buried the people. 11 people have been confirmed dead, four were taken to the hospital, while two others were missing.
A witness said at the point of the erosion, there were the 16-seat van, along with another 7-seat car and other motorbikes going through the area. When the erosion happened, three people on the 7-seat car went down to help push the 16-seat van, and they too were later buried in another wave of erosion.
Excavators were also brought to the scene.
Two days prior, heavy rains in Ha Giang were triggered due to the impacts of low-pressure areas. Rain levels from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday in Tan Lap Commune were recorded to be at 290 mm, and 280 mm at Xuan Minh Commune, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. These two sites were located near the eroded area.
Photo by Trong Hai
A person riding a motorbike got off the vehicle to help push the 16-seat bus. When the erosion happened, the motorbike got swept away, while the rider remained safe.
Photo by Phan Giao Ho
The 16-seat bus was pulled out of the scene thanks to excavators and ropes.
Photo courtesy of the Ha Giang military command
Dozens of soldiers used ropes to pull a body from a cliff.
Photo courtesy of the Ha Giang military command
A representative of Bac Me District said 11 bodies had been found as of 2 p.m. Saturday, while four injured people were receiving treatments at the Ha Giang general hospital.
Photo by Phuong Thao
Along the National Highway 34, dozens of ambulances and medical workers stood ready to help vicitms.
Photo by Trong Hai
Rescue forces perform operations at the site.
Video courtesy of The Dong and the Ha Giang military command
