Rescue forces approach the landslide area at the Ta Pao Ho 1A hydropower plant construction site in Phong Tho District, Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Supplied
Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities investigate the cause of the fatal landslide, believed to be triggered by days of heavy downpours.
According to initial reports from the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the incident occurred at 10:30 am on Friday while nine workers from Dung Phuc Loc Construction Investment JSC, based in north-central Nghe An Province, were redirecting a stream at the construction site.
A sudden landslide from the upper slope buried several workers, leaving five missing and injuring four.
Local rescue forces immediately deployed 150 personnel to the site for search and rescue operations.
As of 9:30 am on Saturday, three bodies have been recovered, identified as Tan Su M., 45, Ly Lao S., 17, and one currently being identified.
Efforts to locate the remaining two victims continue.
Rescue forces recovered three victims' bodies on the morning of May 17, 2025
All four injured workers, aged 39 to 55, are residents of Nghe An Province and are being treated at Lai Chau General Hospital for various injuries including open wounds, suspected brain trauma, spinal injuries, and soft tissue damage.
Dao Viet Hung, director of the hospital, confirmed their conditions are currently stable and under close medical supervision.
Landslide victims are being treated at Lai Chau General Hospital in Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam
In response, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday evening issued an urgent directive to multiple ministries and provincial authorities, urging swift rescue efforts, proper medical care for the injured, and a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
PM Chinh also extended condolences to the victims' families.
He emphasized the need for enhanced safety measures at construction sites, particularly during the rainy season.
He instructed the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to mobilize necessary forces and resources for rescue efforts, while urging the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to assess landslide-prone areas and strengthen disaster preparedness nationwide.
Heavy rainfall in recent days has saturated mountainous terrain across Lai Chau, heightening the risk of landslides and posing significant threats to public safety and infrastructure.
A landslide occurred at the Ta Pao Ho 1A hydropower plant construction site in Phong Tho District, Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam at around 10:30 am on May 16, 2025, leaving five workers missing and four others injured. Photo: Supplied
Local rescue forces immediately deployed 150 personnel to the landslide site for search and rescue operations. Photo: Supplied
The board of directors of Lai Chau Province's police department directly supervises the search for victims at the scene of the landslide, May 17, 2025
Firefighting and rescue police rappel to handle areas at risk of landslides. Photo: Supplied
An estimated 200 cubic meters of earth and rock collapsed. Photo: Supplied
The landslide from the upper slope buried several workers, leaving five missing and injuring four. Photo: Supplied
As of 9:30 am on May 17, 2025, three bodies were recovered. Photo: Supplied
Authorities are searching for the remaining two victims. Photo: Supplied
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