"Letting go slowly, that's enough...", said Mr. Dang Xuan Bach - a rescue worker speaking loudly, holding a rope, slowly letting go of a person approaching a "frog hammer" in the death hole in Kim Lu commune (Na Ri, Bac Kan).
Sitting on a specialized buoy in the middle of the hole, Mr. Bach used a fishing line about 4m long to search. However, due to slippery terrain and complex deep caves, the equipment cannot reach the thick layer of mud. The strong underground water makes the search even more difficult, and no results are available.
"When I was about to go down, I was very worried, going down to the place to find it was not easy because the below was deep, dark and dangerous.
In that situation, I told myself to stay calm, do my best, even if it was a ray of hope, I had to try to find it so that the victim's family would not be afraid," Mr. Bach shared.
According to Mr. Bach, the moment he swung a rope into the death hole was the moment many people held their breath, because despite being fully equipped with protection, danger was always lurking. A minute of mistakes can be rewarded with life.
Previously, on the evening of May 26, in the area of the death hole on National Highway 3B through Hiep Luc village, Kim Lu commune (Na Ri, Bac Kan), a young man driving a motorbike fell over the fence, suspected of falling into the hole and going missing.
Upon receiving the news, that same night, more than 10 militia of Kim Lu commune were present at the scene to conduct a search by saw and hook.
Mr. Hoang Duc Thinh, a militia of the commune, said: "When we arrived, it was dark, the holes were slippery and very deep, making the search difficult. But the brothers still took turns taking turns and staying at the scene all night, hoping to find the person in distress.
In the following days, nearly 20 rescue soldiers and specialized equipment were mobilized. The camera was sent to a search area at a depth of 8 - 12m but was obstructed by thick mud, waste and cloudy water.
From the cage's mouth to the bottom measured 18m, many underground water corridors and "frog-hammer" areas appeared with great potential danger.
Every time they approach a deep hole, there is a potential risk, due to the complex structure of the bottom of the hole, which can collapse at any time.
When the pumping plan is implemented, the water level in the hole will temporarily recede. However, after a few days, the groundwater poured in strongly, causing mud to overflow, causing the water drainage work to be temporarily suspended.
Functional forces are concerned that if they continue to pump, suck, and stone on the mouth of the hole may collapse, fill the bottom, hinder the search and reduce the possibility of victims emerging.
According to the reporter's records in early June 2025, at the scene, dozens of rescue officers were still on duty day and night, setting up tents on the edge of the hole, taking turns searching regardless of the sun or rain.
The exploration equipment is still maintained and ready to operate when conditions allow. Relatives of the victim were on duty nearby, waiting for each signal from the rescue team.
Talking to Lao Dong, Mr. Truong Quang Trong - Chairman of Kim Lu Commune People's Committee said that this was the first time the locality had recorded such a serious subsidence.
"The subsidence point on National Highway 3B has a complex structure. Previously, nearly 200m3 of boulders had been dumped, but after one night, there were no traces left.
For the missing victims under the hole, we are still searching, and at the same time requesting superiors to support more rescue forces from the Central Government," said the Chairman of Kim Lu Commune People's Committee.
