The landslide occurred in the early hours of Sept. 17 at the home of X.V.D., born in 1975, in Tu Ly village, Da Bac commune.

A large volume of earth and rocks slid down the hillside behind the house, smashing through the walls of two bedrooms and burying three people inside.

Phu Tho provincial leaders and Major General Nguyen Minh Tuan, director of the provincial police, arrived at the scene to direct search-and-rescue operations and efforts to deal with the aftermath.

The provincial police’s Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue Police Division, together with Da Bac commune police, deployed personnel and equipment to reach the site and search for those trapped beneath the debris.

After a search, rescuers recovered the bodies of all three victims.

They were identified as X.V.D.; his wife, D.T.L., born in 1979; and X.T.C., born in 1949, D.’s paternal aunt.

Authorities are continuing to secure and clear the site, assist the victims’ family and take measures to reduce the risk of further landslides.