Around 5 pm on 20/5, a large volume of earth and rock from a mountain unexpectedly slid down onto workers operating near the base at the Anh Tuan Co., Ltd. quarry in Cam Tu commune, Thanh Hoa province.

The three workers buried were Lo Van Thoi, 40; Lo Van Quy, 37; and Hoang Van Ngay, 38, all from Lao Cai. Rescue forces located one victim overnight and transported them for emergency care, but the individual did not survive. The other two workers remain missing.

The scene of the landslide. Photo: Lam Son

Throughout the night of 20/5 and early morning of 21/5, hundreds of police, military personnel, and fire prevention, fighting, and rescue forces were mobilized. They deployed excavators, specialized vehicles, drones, sniffer dogs, and thermal detection equipment to search for the victims.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Trong Tai, head of the Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue Police Department of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, stated that rescue operations faced significant difficulties. The site was covered with thousands of cubic meters of debris, rain caused slippery conditions, and there was an ongoing risk of further landslides. Rescuers had to prioritize both searching for victims and ensuring the safety of personnel.

Excavators and specialized vehicles were mobilized to the scene to search for the missing victims. Photo: Lam Son

The chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee directed the Provincial Police to coordinate with other units to continue searching for victims, investigate the cause of the accident, and strictly handle any violations. The Department of Agriculture and Environment was tasked with comprehensively inspecting mineral exploitation activities, labor safety, and environmental protection at the Anh Tuan Co., Ltd. quarry. Additionally, Cam Tu commune authorities were instructed to secure the scene, support the victims' families, and assess landslide-prone areas during the rainy season.

Cao Van Cuong (third from right), vice chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, directed recovery efforts on the night of the accident. Photo: Lam Son

According to local authorities, the quarry where the accident occurred has been operating for over ten years, specializing in cut stone for cladding and construction materials. Anh Tuan Co., Ltd. recently took over and began operating the quarry.

Le Hoang