The remaining embankment was destroyed on Saturday to avoid unexpected accidents. — VNA/VNS Photo Chu Quốc Hùng

ĐÀ LẠT — Police want to speak to around 20 people in connection with a deadly landslide in Đà Lạt City which killed two people and injured five others.

Criminal proceedings have also been launched over construction violations which have been the reason for the landslide.

Colonel Trần Vĩnh Phú, head of the city’s police office said that after the incident, the province’s Police Department directed the city’s police office to quickly clarify the cause of this landslide.

Investigators have examined the scene of the collapse which happened in alley No 36, Hoàng Hoa Thám Street, Ward 10 last Thursday.

The investigating agency recommended that local people, who knew of the violations related to the construction of the embankment causing the landslide in the alley, should soon report it to authorities.

On Saturday and Sunday, Đặng Quang Tú, Chairman of the People's Committee of the city ordered the forces to proactively bring machinery and vehicles to destroy the remaining of the embankment to avoid unexpected accidents.

The embankment showed signs of cracking and it was not safe, so the committee decided to destroy it, he said.

Tú also sent a written request on Saturday to the head of the Office of the People's Council, Office of the People's Committee; Office of Natural Resources and Environment; and the People's Committee of Ward 10, ordering that all officials, civil servants and public employees of the agencies and units to not leave the locality to serve the investigation.

The officials, civil servants and public employees were told to coordinate and provide full information to the investigating agency at any time, including Saturday and Sunday, until the investigation is completed, Tú said.

The two victims were a husband and wife who migrated from Phú Yên Province to work in construction. The landslide occurred after a nearby concrete embankment broke in heavy rain, causing four homes to be buried. Two houses were completely destroyed, while two others are partly buried by the soil.

According to Head of the Weather Forecasting Department, National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, recently Lâm Đồng has experienced frequent rains leading to the soil and rock to be saturated with water.

Landslides can happen at any time regardless of day or night, he said. — VNS