
Quang Nam (VNA) – Deputy Prime MinisterTrinh Dinh Dung on October 29 ordered competent forces to race against time andmobilise vehicles to clear out National Highway 40 so as to access the sites ofthe landslides that buried 53 people in two mountainous communes in centralQuang Nam province.
Right after learning about the landslides that hitTra Leng and Tra Van communes in Nam Tra My district on October 28 night, theDeputy PM, other Government officials and leaders of Quang Nam province came toBac Tra My district near the landslide sites to instruct the search and rescueoperations on October 29.
Armed forces of Military Zone 5 and the Military HighCommand of Quang Nam province are playing the core role in the special efforts.
The Deputy PM also suggested accessing the sites viawaterways and air routes.
According to Thai Hoang Vu, Chairman of the People’sCommittee of Bac Tra My district, five slides have been reported along NationalHighway 40, disrupting traffic and hindering rescue efforts.
As of 12:00 on October 29, three of the five slideson the highway had been handled, while the remainders are set to be cleared outby 4pm the same day, and rescue forces are expected to approach the twocommunes by 5pm on the day.
Lt. Gen. Nguyen Long Cang, Commander of MilitaryZone 5, said more than 200 officers and soldiers headed to the sites for searchand rescue operations on October 28 night.
They are now in the centre of Bac Tra My district,nearly 15km from the landslide sites, while roads are being cleared out.
Phan Viet Cuong, Secretary of the provincial PartyCommittee, said the bodies of 16 out of the 53 victims have been found.
The province has called for the involvement of localyouths in the response work, and asked residents in mountainous districts tostay on high alert against further landslides and floods, he said./.