On the morning of 18/11, a leader from Road Management Zone 3 announced that Khanh Le Pass (National Highway 27C) continued to experience numerous landslides last night. The most severe section is a 50-meter stretch in Nam Khanh Vinh commune, where six boulders, each weighing hundreds of tons, are impossible to remove with excavators or cranes.

Landslide blocking Khanh Le Pass in the section through Nam Khanh Vinh commune. *Photo by Bui Toan*

Nguyen Thanh Phu, Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Construction, stated that the province will coordinate with a specialized unit from the Ministry of National Defense to drill into the rocks and blast them into smaller pieces for removal. The blasting operation is expected to take two days once approved.

Previously, heavy rains caused numerous landslides on the pass. On the night of 16/11, a passenger bus traveling from Da Lat to Nha Trang was crushed by rocks, resulting in six deaths and 19 injuries. Yesterday afternoon, the pass was sealed off, allowing only rescue vehicles to pass.

Landslide site where rocks crushed a passenger bus on the night of 16/11. *Photo by Bui Toan*

Late last year, the management unit also blasted a rock weighing over 450 tons in this area following a landslide.

National Highway 27C, 121 km long, is a vital route connecting Da Lat and Nha Trang, shortening the journey by at least 50 km compared to other routes, making it a preferred choice for many drivers.

Area where the landslide occurred. *Graphic by Tam Thao*

According to the Khanh Hoa Hydro-Meteorological Station, rain decreased on the morning of 18/11 but could intensify again in the late afternoon and evening. Some areas experienced heavy rainfall, such as Khanh Phu with 110 mm and Khanh Thuong with 105 mm. Tonight and tomorrow morning, river levels are likely to rise, though flood peaks are forecast to remain below alarm level 2.

Bui Toan