Working all night to dig a path to the landslide that buried 22 officers and soldiers
By 11pm on October 18, the West branch of Ho Chi Minh Highway had cleared the most difficult "bottleneck" at km 16. Vehicles can now move for rescue operations.
Mr. Ha Sy Dong - Permanent Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee said that due to the impactheavy rainDue to the high risk of landslides, authorities had to temporarily stop searching at the scene.
“The West branch of Ho Chi Minh Highway is seriously eroded, rescue forces cannot reach the scene yet and must mobilize local forces.
"Mechanical vehicles and rescue team members will work through the night to clear the route this morning," said Mr. Dong.
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| Construction forces actively worked at night to clear the rescue route. |
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| After opening the road, it will be reinforced with rubble to make the roadbed firm. |
At this point, the rain and floods have torn the roadbed, causing the footing to collapse. In a meeting between the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, the Roads Department and rescue forces, the optimal solution was to dig up the mountain to open a new road, then reinforce the roadbed with boulders.
As the unit mobilizing machinery to participate in road opening tonight, Khang Duc Construction Investment Joint Stock Company, HCM Branch, dispatched 2 excavators and a wheel loader to participate in road opening.
In the dark, with the coordination of forces, the road opening was carried out most urgently.
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| Landslide at km 16 (photo taken at noon on October 18) |
By 11pm on October 18, the bottleneck - the landslide at km16 had been basically resolved. Along with the first and third landslides being handled, the route leading to the area where the landslide that buried 22 officers and soldiers occurred was cleared, vehicles could circulate conveniently for the search work...", a representative of the construction unit shared.
On October 18, search and rescue forces found 14 bodies of officers and soldiers buried under a communal dining hall that was crushed by a landslide.
12 bodies found in landslide that buried 22 officers and soldiers in Quang Tri
(Baonghean.vn) - Authorities found 12 bodies out of 22 officers and soldiers of the 337th Defense Economic Group (Military Region IV) buried by a landslide in Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district (Quang Tri), on the morning of October 18.