On the morning of 16/11, Military Region 5 mobilized hundreds of officers and soldiers, coordinating with police, border guards, and militia, to access the landslide area in Hung Son commune to search for three missing people. Teams were deployed along two suspected burial sites, using flycams for aerial surveys and K9 dogs to reach areas inaccessible to machinery. Food, water, and medical supplies were continuously provided to the forces on duty.

From the night of 15/11, heavy rain saturated the ground, causing several areas to sink; by the early morning of 16/11, dense fog severely reduced visibility. After nearly an hour of searching, the forward command post ordered all forces to withdraw due to additional signs of landslides, before reorganizing their strategy. The continuation of the search depends on the evolving on-site conditions, as the risk to safety remains significant.

The scene is a massive section of mountain that collapsed onto Puc village, involving over one million cubic meters of earth and rock. This blocked a stream and created a thick layer of soft mud, causing rescue forces to sink deeply with every step. At two suspected victim camps, debris reached depths of 7-15 m; many sections also showed flowing mud and large sliding chunks.

Immediately to the left of the site, another hillside showed a wide crack, posing a risk of collapse at any moment. Commanders had to constantly monitor the terrain and be ready to order a withdrawal if conditions changed. Colonel Do Xuan Hung, Deputy Chief of Staff of Military Region 5, described the terrain as "very complex," with thick, soft mud preventing machinery access.

The Da Nang Border Guard maintained 80 officers and soldiers, along with K9 dogs, at the scene. Limited visibility, deep mud, and ongoing earth and rock slides posed significant challenges for the rescue forces.

Military forces searching for victims at the landslide site. Photo: Ha Truc

Professor Do Minh Duc, a geotechnical expert, stated that searches in large-scale landslides are often prolonged because the slide can carry victims far away and bury them deep under layers of earth and rock; K9 dogs can only detect victims in shallow positions. Tran Nam Hung, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, inspected the site and described the level of destruction as "horrendous," urging units to focus maximally while prioritizing safety given the ongoing earth and rock slides.

The landslide occurred at 9h30 on 14/11, under sunny skies, resulting in three missing people. Authorities urgently evacuated 171 households, comprising nearly 700 residents, from the dangerous zone. Hung Son, a commune bordering Laos and formerly part of Tay Giang district (old Quang Nam province), is characterized by steep terrain and weak soil, making it one of Central Vietnam's highest-risk landslide areas. In late October and early November, the region recorded dozens of landslide incidents, severing many transportation routes.

Nguyen Dong