Landslides threaten 35ha pine hill, force evacuations in Vietnam’s Lam Dong

Tran Thi Thanh Hai, a local resident, said soil and rocks from the hillside behind her house slid down like a flowing stream several days earlier, flooding her kitchen and forcing her family to leave their home urgently.

“Even though the rain has stopped, the ground is still sliding. We don’t dare return home and are hoping for a long-term solution,” Hai said.

According to the Hiep Thanh Commune People’s Committee, during heavy rains early this month, local authorities deployed forces to evacuate residents and their property.

Houses located in high-risk landslide zones around the 35-hectare pine hill, managed by the Duc Trong Protection Forest Management Board, were sealed off to prevent residents from returning.

Authorities said a total of 10 households were forced to leave the danger zone.

In cases where residents did not comply, local officials drew up violation records and carried out compulsory evacuations.

Residents said homes had been built in the area many years ago, but signs of slope instability began appearing in 2024.

Local authorities repeatedly warned of safety risks, which worsened after heavy rains early this month.

At the scene, landslides struck multiple areas of the upper slope. 

Soil and rocks have moved from the hilltop down toward residential areas, pressing against houses. 

In some cases, landslides have buried kitchens or caused partial structural collapse.

The Duc Trong Protection Forest Management Board said about 1.7 hectares are at risk of landslides, including 1.1 hectares of degraded forest land and 0.55 hectares of non-forested land.

Nguyen Quang Hiep, chairman of the Hiep Thanh Commune People’s Committee, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that all households in the high-risk zone have been evacuated.

Authorities are continuing field surveys, compiling damage assessments, and reporting to the provincial administration to seek comprehensive solutions.

Hiep Thanh Commune was among the hardest-hit areas in Lam Dong during floods from November to early December, which caused extensive damage to homes, property, and crops, according to Lao Dong (Labor) newspaper.

Earlier, on December 6, the provincial administration declared an emergency disaster situation for several sections of national highways and mountain passes, including National Highways 20, 27, 27C, and 28, as well as the Prenn Pass, after prolonged heavy rains triggered landslides, flooding, and infrastructure damage, disrupting traffic and public safety.