At least six people have died and 19 others were injured after a landslide buried a passenger bus on a perilous mountain pass in central Vietnam. The incident occurred late on Sunday as the bus traversed the Khanh Le pass, a route known for its scenic beauty but treacherous conditions during the rainy season.
State media reported that earth and rocks collapsed onto the vehicle, crushing its front section and trapping numerous passengers. The bus was carrying 32 people from Ho Chi Minh City and was travelling from Da Lat in the central highlands to the coastal city of Nha Trang.
Rescue efforts were severely hampered by further landslides on both sides of the 33-kilometre winding pass, cutting off access for several hours. Emergency teams battled through the challenging conditions and only managed to reach the site after midnight, with more heavy rain anticipated throughout the week raising concerns about further instability. The injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital, but two of the dead bodies were still trapped under the debris as the treacherous terrain hindered the work.
Heavy rain is pounding central Vietnam, which earlier was hit hard by Typhoon Kalmaegi. Rainfall through Wednesday is expected to reach 30–60 centimetres in parts of central Vietnam, with some areas likely to exceed 85 centimetres. The downpours have already caused flooding and landslides in mountainous areas of Hue city on Sunday, blocking a major highway that runs from northern to southern Vietnam and cutting off several villages. The former imperial capital has already endured historic floods this year.
Vietnam is among the world’s most flood-prone countries, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas. Scientists warn that a warming climate is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods and landslides increasingly destructive and frequent.
