At approximately 3h, the Ma Da Guoi Traffic Police Station, Lam Dong Provincial Police, blocked nearly 200 m of National Route 20 while workers from the National Route 20 maintenance unit accessed the rock located halfway up the pass in Ward 3, Bao Loc.

The rock was cleared, allowing it to fall onto the pass road. *Hoai Thanh*

More than 10 individuals used specialized equipment to drill and chisel the rock into smaller pieces, allowing them to fall onto the pass road in a controlled manner. Afterward, the rock fragments were lifted by heavy trucks and transported away from the area.

After more than one hour of work, the site was completely cleared, and traffic flow over Bao Loc Pass returned to normal.

The rock, estimated to weigh about 15 tons, was discovered by forest-goers a few days earlier. A survey by authorities revealed the boulder consisted of several large blocks. Surrounding forest trees had died and rotted, removing any support and posing a risk of collapse onto the road during heavy rain or external impact.

Cranes move the rock fragments. *Hoai Thanh*

Bao Loc Pass, a 10 km stretch on National Route 20, serves as a vital transportation link between TP HCM and Lam Dong. It frequently faces landslide risks. During the rainy season, earth and rocks from slopes slide onto the road, leading to rockfalls, erosion, or blocked drainage ditches, threatening vehicle safety. At times, thousands of cubic meters of earth and rock have fallen, causing traffic jams and forcing authorities to block, regulate, or quickly clear the route to restore flow.

Hoai Thanh