A massive landslide on Khanh Le Pass in Khanh Hoa Province has brought traffic on National Highway 27C, the vital route connecting Nha Trang and Da Lat, to a standstill. Thousands of tons of mud and debris, along with a boulder weighing over 100 tons, have blocked the road in Khanh Vinh District.

Heavy rain and thick fog persisted today, December 16, complicating cleanup efforts. Workers and machinery have been deployed to clear the highway, but traffic remains paralyzed as landslide debris continues to obstruct the road.

The landslides, triggered by prolonged rain, were concentrated in six locations near Son Thai Commune on the pass. Authorities have cleared four sites, but two remain covered with significant amounts of debris.

Chu Van An, Acting Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa’s Department of Transport, reported that a 100-ton boulder is obstructing the road at Km43+400 in Son Thai. Despite efforts to remove it, the boulder’s size and weight have hampered progress. Workers are drilling into the rock to place explosives for controlled demolition.

The landslide zone lies on a steep curve, approximately 500 meters above sea level. Drone footage reveals the scarred hillside, with uprooted trees and crushed vegetation scattered across the slope. Safety measures, including an exclusion zone, are in place during the rock-blasting operation.

Some sections of the pass remain submerged under large puddles caused by rainfall, with the road surface buried under mud and stones. At Km61+750, a severe landslide caused a 20-centimeter crack in the pavement. Authorities are reinforcing the area with concrete and have installed safety barriers while devising a long-term solution.

Communication infrastructure has also been impacted, prompting technicians to carve out pathways through the forest to reconnect severed lines and ensure communication continuity.

Ongoing recovery efforts

Nguyen Phuong Nam, Deputy Director of Road Management Zone 3, noted that Khanh Le Pass currently has two major landslide zones, separated by nine kilometers. Cleanup crews and equipment have been mobilized from both Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provinces to tackle the blockages. Officials aim to restore one lane of traffic as soon as possible to alleviate the gridlock.

As reported by VietNamNet, the landslides occurred on December 15 following heavy rain, with a massive volume of soil and rocks inundating the highway. The incident stranded around 350 travelers at various points along the pass, cutting them off from essential supplies and services.

The key Nha Trang-Da Lat highway has been severed by landslides on Khanh Le Pass, with cleanup crews racing against time to restore partial traffic flow.

A 100-ton boulder blocks the road at Km43+400 in Son Thai Commune.

Workers clearing debris on Khanh Le Pass amidst thick fog. 

A section of the pass remains heavily obstructed by landslide debris.

Technicians repair damaged communication lines near the landslide site.