Quang Ngai province initiates emergency evacuation of 30 households in Ngoc Linh commune due to critical landslide risks at Dak Re mountain

The local authorities in Ngoc Linh commune, located within the Quang Ngai province of Vietnam, successfully executed an emergency evacuation of 30 households late on the evening of November 10, following the discovery of dangerous new fissures on the slopes of Dak Re mountain. The operation, conducted under the cover of night amidst persistent heavy rainfall, marks a critical intervention by regional disaster management teams to prevent potential loss of life as geological instability reaches a volatile threshold.

The evacuation efforts were coordinated by Mr. Dinh Xuan Hoa, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ngoc Linh commune. Responding to the urgent threat, the local government mobilized police forces, military personnel, and community leaders to assist residents living at the base of the mountain. By 6:00 PM on November 10, all 30 identified households had been safely relocated to temporary shelters, primarily situated within the Ngoc Linh commune hall and the communal longhouse in Mang Hoong village.

The Geological Trigger: Persistent Rainfall and Soil Saturation

The current crisis at Dak Re mountain is not an isolated incident but the latest in a series of geological disturbances that have plagued the region over the past year. According to official reports, the commune recorded significant rainfall reaching an average of 150 millimeters on the day of the incident alone. This intensive downpour acted as a catalyst, further destabilizing soil that had already shown signs of weakness dating back to the rainy season of 2025.

Geological surveys conducted by local officials confirmed that the mountain slope has developed new, deep-seated cracks. These structural compromises, when combined with high levels of soil saturation, have significantly elevated the risk of a major landslide. The presence of these fissures, some of which are extensions of damage documented in previous years, indicates that the integrity of the slope is rapidly deteriorating. The threat of a large-scale slope failure is now categorized as imminent, necessitating the strict enforcement of exclusion zones around the affected mountain base.

Chronology of the Emergency Response

The emergency response was characterized by a rapid, multi-stage operation. As meteorological data began to indicate a dangerous accumulation of rainfall, the Ngoc Linh commune authorities shifted from monitoring to active intervention:

• Early Morning (Nov 10): Heavy rainfall began impacting the region, with local weather stations recording high precipitation levels.
• Mid-Day (Nov 10): Field inspections revealed the expansion of existing fissures and the appearance of new cracks at the Dak Re site.
• Late Afternoon (Nov 10): The People’s Committee of Ngoc Linh authorized the emergency relocation of all residents living in the immediate path of potential slides.
• Evening (Nov 10): By 6:00 PM, the relocation of 30 households was completed, with emergency supplies and essential provisions distributed to ensure the welfare of the displaced families.
• Overnight (Nov 10-11): Authorities continued to monitor the situation, maintaining a constant presence to prevent residents from returning to high-risk zones and to address any emerging secondary threats.

Supporting Data and Regional Meteorological Impact

The situation in Ngoc Linh is reflective of a broader weather pattern affecting the entirety of Quang Ngai province. Between 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM on November 10, the provincial hydrometeorological station reported intense rainfall across several districts. The data highlights the severity of the weather system currently traversing the region:

• Pa A (Kon Plong): 164.4 mm
• Tra Thanh (Thanh Bang): 160.2 mm
• Ngoc Tem (Kon Plong): 158 mm
• Ba Giang (Ba Dinh): 140.2 mm
• Son Ba (Son Ky): 136 mm
• Ba Dien (Ba Vinh): 134.6 mm

These figures indicate that the saturation levels across the province are near critical limits. Beyond the Dak Re incident, several other locations have reported infrastructure damage. A kindergarten in the Dak Boi village is currently under threat due to instability in the slope behind the facility. Furthermore, critical transportation routes, including the road connecting Ngoc Nang to Tu Rung and the thoroughfare linking Mang Hoong village, have suffered from significant surface cracks and localized land slippage. These disruptions are complicating the delivery of aid and hindering the mobility of local emergency response teams.

Official Statements and Crisis Management Protocols

Mr. Dinh Xuan Hoa emphasized that the primary focus remains the safety of the populace, stating, "The commune has provided sufficient food and essential supplies to ensure the residents can shelter in place safely during this period of heavy rain. For those who remain in more distant areas, the local government continues to monitor the situation and is prepared to facilitate further evacuations immediately if conditions deteriorate."

The local administration is strictly adhering to the "four on-the-spot" principle—a disaster management strategy in Vietnam that prioritizes: on-the-spot leadership, on-the-spot forces, on-the-spot equipment, and on-the-spot supplies. By empowering local leaders to make immediate decisions based on real-time field data, the government aims to bypass bureaucratic delays during the critical windows of disaster progression.

Broader Implications for Infrastructure and Disaster Resilience

The recurring nature of the landslide threat in Ngoc Linh serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by climate-induced instability in mountainous regions. The persistent damage to roads and the need for repetitive evacuations highlight a pressing need for long-term geological remediation. Experts note that while immediate evacuations are effective at preserving life, the economic and social cost of recurring displacement is unsustainable.

The provincial government is currently reviewing structural mitigation strategies, such as slope stabilization, reforestation of denuded areas, and the potential relocation of vulnerable residential clusters to safer, geologically sound zones. However, these are long-term capital-intensive projects. For the immediate future, the priority remains the real-time monitoring of weather patterns and the maintenance of high-alert status.

Risk Forecast and Public Warnings

The meteorological department has issued a high-risk warning for flash floods and landslides for the next six hours across multiple districts, including Ba Dinh, Ba To, Ba Xa, Kon Plong, Tra Bang, and others. The risk level for landslides and slope failure is currently set at Level 1, the baseline for active threats.

Authorities are advising residents in the affected regions to remain vigilant, strictly follow evacuation orders, and avoid crossing flooded streams or traveling on roads with visible signs of ground movement. As the rainy season continues, the volatility of the terrain remains a primary concern for local officials, who are tasked with the difficult balance of maintaining daily life while preparing for the sudden onset of natural disasters.

The situation in Quang Ngai underscores the vulnerability of highland communities to extreme weather events. As the region recovers from this immediate threat, the focus will likely shift to a comprehensive assessment of the environmental damage and the implementation of more robust preventative measures to safeguard the province against future climatic volatility. The successful evacuation of the 30 families in Ngoc Linh serves as a testament to the effectiveness of localized emergency preparedness, yet it also highlights the increasing frequency with which such measures are becoming necessary.