Right after the landslide, Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich ordered relevant units and agencies of the Ministry of National Defense and Military Region 4 to actively carry out SAR missions.
On October 14, the SAR forces of the ministry and more than 700 troops of units and relevant agencies of Thua Thien - Hue province put forth their best efforts, racing against time to clear the path to the landslide site and search for the 13 victims.
Troops of Engineer Brigade 414 and Division 968 mobilized and operated machines and equipment to open a path to the site. Major General Ha Tho Binh, Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff of Military Region 4, directly led a contingent of 100 troops to advance ahead. After a lot of effort, the path to the site was cleared at 10 a.m. October 14.
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Troops of Military Region 4 search for those missing in action. |
At the scene, the landslide had swept away the whole area where the SAR mission stayed for the night on October 12. Now the whole area is covered in soil, mud and stone, as high as a whole body.
In another effort, the Ministry of National Defense mobilized troops and equipment of the Signal Corps and the Air Defense - Air Force Service (ADAF) along with various other forces for the SAR missions. Accordingly, Major General Pham Truong Son, ADAF Deputy Commanding Officer, directed two flight crews of Regiment 930 under Division 372 to drop supplies to stranded workers at Rao Trang 3, Rao Trang 4 and A Lin B2 hydropower plant areas.
In another SAR direction, forces of the Signal Corps and Military Region 4 deployed makeshift signal stations and communication lines to form the communication channel through the satellite, connecting the forward command post, the headquarters of Military Region 4 Command, and the General Staff, serving the implementation of the SAR missions.
To ensure smooth communication for the coordination of SAR forces, the Ministry of National Defense also sent Brigade 205 of the Signal Corps for the mission. The brigade mobilized to the scene skilled troops with professional expertise in dealing with urgent and complex communication and SAR situations. The signal force then coordinated with Signal Brigade 80 of Military Region 4 to ensure smooth communication for command and coordination among SAR forces.
According to Commanding General of Military Region 4 Lieutenant General Nguyen Doan Anh, who just returned to the forward command post from the scene of the landslide, “We must race against time, taking advantage of each and every minute, with responsibility and our highest capabilities, regardless of difficulties, to carry out the SAR missions in the most effective way.”
Translated by Huu Duong