Landslides in many places in Nha Trang, 12 people died

According to the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Khanh Hoa province, due to the influence of a tropical depression, on the morning of November 18, Nha Trang experienced heavy rain, causing serious landslides in many places. By early this afternoon, at least 12 people had died.

At a pho restaurant on Ton That Tung Street (Vinh Tho Ward), heavy rain caused a wall nearly 10 meters long and 10 meters high to collapse at the back. Many customers ran away in panic, some were hit by flying concrete.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen (owner of the restaurant) and a 7-year-old boy (in the tourist group) could not run away in time and were buried under the layer of rocks and soil. Nearly an hour later, both were brought out but were dead.

Mr. Nguyen Khoa Giao, who survived, said that the dead boy was the son of a teacher in the group. His group of about 30 teachers traveled from Ea H'leo district (Dak Lak) to Nha Trang for a vacation yesterday, on the occasion of November 20. The incident also injured 4 other people in the group.

In the area of ​​​​Xom Nui, Phuoc Dong commune, Nha Trang city, heavy rain caused a part of the rock and soil from the hill to slide down to the spontaneous residential area here. Authorities are approaching the scene to rescue victims suspected to be trapped.

In Vinh Truong ward, there was also a serious landslide, burying 4 people. One victim has been found and is being treated at the hospital.

"Many places in the city are experiencing landslides, cutting off traffic," said Mr. Nguyen Sy Khanh, Vice Chairman of Nha Trang City People's Committee. Of the 12 deaths, there were 2 cases in Vinh Truong ward, 2 in Vinh Tho, 5 in Phuoc Dong commune and 3 cases in Vinh Hoa ward.

National Highway 1 and railway were deeply flooded.

Heavy rain also caused many areas in Nha Trang City this morning to be flooded, some nearly a meter deep. In the Western quarters of Nguyen Thien Thuat and Tran Quang Khai, tourists waded through water, many vehicles stalled. In the Dong Muoi area (Phuoc Long ward), water flooded more than a meter into houses, forcing people to evacuate.

National Highway 27 from Nha Trang to Lam Dong was also eroded. Many other locations on National Highway 1A, such as Cam Ranh, Cam Lam and Vinh Luong commune in Nha Trang were heavily flooded, cars could only drive in one lane at very slow speed.

The railway line through Nha Trang City and Cam Lam District was also paralyzed due to deep flooding. The SE7 passenger train running from North to South had to stop at Luong Son Station, 12 km from Nha Trang Station. The train is still unable to run, and 400 passengers are still stranded.

"Nearly 40 passengers at Nha Trang station waiting to board the train were refunded to use other means of transport," said Mr. Le Hong Son, Deputy Director of Saigon Railway Transport, Nha Trang branch.

According to the National Center for Hydrometeorology, early this morning, storm No. 8 (international name Toraji) weakened into a tropical depression. At 10:00 a.m., the center of the depression was about 110 km east-southeast of Phan Rang (Ninh Thuan), and about 220 km east-northeast of La Gi (Binh Thuan). Maximum wind speed was 60 km/h (level 7), gusting up two levels.

Due to the influence of low pressure, from Khanh Hoa to Binh Thuan there is heavy rain. Rainfall in the past 12 hours is 70-150 mm, water level in rivers from Khanh Hoa to Ninh Thuan is rising. Many places are at risk of landslides and flash floods.