Around 10:30 PM on 23/8, large rocks detached from a mountain and rolled into a residential area along Le Loi street in Chi Lang commune. The rocks traveled for about 300 m, with some crashing into homes.
One rock collapsed the porch of a two-story house. Another, weighing tons, brought down a section of a wall before rolling into the living room of a two-story house. Nguyen Huu Dung, Vice Chairman of Chi Lang Commune People's Committee, confirmed the incident caused no human casualties, but damaged many residents' motorbikes and bicycles. That night, authorities promptly evacuated 14 households from the dangerous area to safety.
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A large rock rolled into a home, evening of 23/8. Photo: Lang Son. |
A large rock rolled into a home, evening of 23/8. Photo: Lang Son.
On the morning of 24/8, functional forces continued to survey the scene. They identified the landslide location and assessed the cause and level of danger. This assessment will inform solutions to ensure resident safety.
The rockfall occurred amidst heavy rainfall from storm Narra, which has significantly impacted Lang Son province. The Ky Cung river at the Lang Son station recorded a water level of 256,41 cm at 4:00 PM on 23/8, which was 41 cm above alarm level three. Similarly, the Thuong river in Huu Lung reached 20,65 m, exceeding alarm level three by 1,65 m.
Across the province, 2.816 homes were flooded, and approximately 700 landslide and inundation points caused traffic jams. Over 2.000 households have been evacuated to safety. Tragically, one person died when a landslide hit their home.
The area where the rockfall occurred is the former Dong Mo town, characterized by hilly terrain interspersed with valleys. The geology of this area is complex, featuring limestone mountain ranges alongside sandstone and shale distributed across many areas, making it susceptible to such events during heavy rains.
Gia Chinh
