The Deadliest Single Landslide in Vietnam, 2020

LCI : VNM202509011830
Main Information
Landslide Name : The Deadliest Single Landslide in Vietnam, 2020
Latitude : 16:43:19.89 N
Longitude : 106:38:26.87 E
Location
City / District : Huong Hoa
Province : Quang Tri
Country : Việt Nam
Reporter
Reporter 1 : Pham Tien
Reporter 2 : Tien Van
Landslide Type
Material : Debris, Earth
Movement : Slide, Flow
Velocity (mm/sec) : Extremely Rapid
Depth (m) : Moderate-Shallow
Slope (degree) : Moderate
Volume (m³) : Large-Moderate
Date of Occurence
Date of Occurence : Oct 18, 2020
Other Information
Land Use Source area : Forest
Run-out/deposition area : Human settlement, Road
Other Activity : Active in the past
Triggering Factor : Rainfall
Death(s) & Missing : 22
Houses and other structural damage : -
Photo of landslide :
Google earth kmz file : The 2020 Deadliest Single Landslide in Vietnam.kmz
Plan of landslide :
Cross section of landslide :
Reference (paper/report) : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10346-021-01664-y
Testing graph : -
Monitoring graph : -
Video of moving landslides including 3D simulation : -
Description :

At 1:05 AM on Sunday, 18 October 2020, a rapid long-travelling landslide induced by heavy rainfall struck a military barracks in Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province, Vietnam, killing 22 soldiers. The landslide mass originated from the hilltop, moving downslope and completely burying four buildings while partially damaging three others along its path. According to a survivor’s account, the event was preceded by a loud noise resembling a ground explosion, and the landslide reached the barracks within approximately ten seconds, where 29 people were present at the time. Analysis indicates that the failure developed on the slope of an ancient landslide terrain strongly influenced by tectonic faults. The extreme cumulative rainfall over a prolonged period was the critical triggering factor, while geological and morphological conditions acted as the main preparatory causes. The event was characterized by a rapid, flow-like movement with exceptionally high mobility.