6 dead as landslide buries bus on Vietnam’s scenic Khanh Le pass

A landslide buried a passenger bus on a treacherous mountain pass in Vietnam, killing six people and injuring 19 others, as more heavy rain was forecast for the week.

The earth and rocks collapsed onto the bus late on Sunday as it was travelling through the Khanh Le pass in the central highlands, state media reported.

The winding, 33km (20 mile) stretch carved into steep mountainsides is scenic and popular with tourists but prone to landslides in the rainy season.

The landslide crushed the front of the bus, trapping many passengers. Rescuers struggled for hours to reach the scene as heavy rain had also caused landslides on both sides of the pass, cutting off access.

Rescue teams were able to reach the bus only after midnight, state media said.

The bus was carrying 32 people from Vietnam’s financial capital, Ho Chi Minh City, and was travelling from Da Lat in Vietnam’s central highlands to the coastal city of Nha Trang.