Helicopters supply rescue forces at Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Plant

Pilots drop supplies to rescue forces on the morning of October 14. Photo: Tran Hoai

Two flights carrying relief supplies to hydroelectric power plants. The forces have reached the landslide site at Ranger Station 67, however, the large amount of rock and soil makes it difficult to handle. Once the road is cleared, search dogs will be brought to the scene to participate in the rescue.

Trucks carrying boulders enter the scene. Photo: Vo Thanh.

At Phong Xuan Primary School, the commune center, 30 km from the scene, two army field kitchens were set up, serving 100 meals this afternoon. Hundreds of people and teachers from Phong Xuan commune and neighboring communes brought vegetables, chicken, eggs, rice, cooking oil, etc. to provide supplies. People helped cook and prepare the meals. These meals will be transferred to the Rao Trang 3 hydropower plant rescue site.

People help the cooks prepare meals. Photo: Hoang Tao.

At 9:30 a.m. on October 14, a helicopter appeared in the sky of Phong Xuan commune (Phong Dien district), then flew into sub-region 67, Song Bo ranger station, more than 10 km from the commune center. This is where the landslide occurred, causing13 officers and soldiers missing.

According to Lieutenant General Nguyen Doan Anh - Commander of Military Region 4, helicopters participate in aerial reconnaissance, transporting food and provisions, and rescue when weather and terrain permit.

In addition to helicopters, the Forward Command Center for Search and Rescue also sent sniffer dogs to the scene to quickly search for missing people.

Ranger Station 67 before (left) and after the landslide (right). Photo: Thua Thien Hue Newspaper

Military Region 4 and the local authorities mobilized nearly 500 officers and soldiers, divided into groups by road and waterway, to approach sub-region 67 and the hydroelectric plant. Dozens of locals familiar with the area were also invited to join in the rescue.

Dozens of excavators and bulldozers have been working continuously since yesterday to clear the road. Due to heavy rain, the road to sub-region 67 and Rao Trang 3 hydropower plant has more than 10 major landslides and 4 fast-flowing streams.

This morning (October 14), it was not raining. The Forward Command Center directed the forces to take advantage of the weather to speed up the progress of clearing landslides and opening the route to the ranger station of sub-region 67.