At around 1 a.m. Sunday, the landslide hit two lodgings of the Defense Economics Division 337 in Huong Phung Commune, Huong Hoa District. Five were saved and 22 others were said to be missing.
By 3 p.m, 12 bodies had been found.
The Border Defense Force Command rushed about 100 officers and soldiers of the Border Force of Quang Tri Province to the accident site to participate in the rescue operations. Four officers, coaches and two trained dogs were also sent here from Intermediate School 24 of the La Lay Border Defense Force in the central province.
The rescue forces are in a race against time as Quang Tri has been experiencing heavy rains for more than 10 days, triggering a spate of floods and landslides. With the rains continuing the danger of further landslides and the mountain itself collapsing remains a threat.
"Right now the mountain is still collapsing. The noise is louder than bombs. I saw excavators approaching the site and many people participating in searching for the victims," said Dinh Phung, a resident near the site.
A body is found after hours of searching.
The People's Committee of Quang Tri Province has set up an emergency team and a command board in Huong Hoa District, led by Vice Chairman of the committee Ha Sy Dong, to direct the rescue work.
A huge amount of rock and dirt broke off from the mountain behind and hit the lodgings and also spilled on to a stadium on the premises.
