Standing in front of the sinkhole on National Highway 3B, Mr. Chu Van Thanh, Kim Lu Commune (Na Ri, Bac Kan) could not hide his shock.
The hole is located in the middle of the median strip, nearly 10m wide, more than 8m deep, with steep earthen walls and sharp, uneven rocks and stagnant water.
Mr. Thanh recalled that at the end of March 2025, the national highway surface suddenly collapsed into a large area, the cage opened day by day, swallowing up both lanes, paralyzing traffic.
Looking at the edge of the hole that had been warned with a warning rope, Mr. Thanh shook his head in frustration: "Before, I passed this section every day, now I look back and my back is cold.
Especially after the incident of a person and a motorbike falling into a hole, everyone was confused. The feeling of walking on the road without knowing when the ground will collapse, it is really both worrying and scared".
Also having a house not far from the death hole, Mr. Trieu Van Ninh could not hide his concern when witnessing the cline gradually expanding, rising into the residential land of the people.
Some areas in front of people's houses have subsidence, peeling walls, and ruts along the edge of bricks.
"There has been no problem for the past few years, but since the road collapse, the whole yard has begun to sink slightly, some places have dropped, if this continues like this, it will soon eat deep into the foundation of the house," said Mr. Ninh.
In the nearby fields, many low-lying areas and cracks began to appear, some places collapsed, creating small holes deeper than 1m. People had to stretch warning ropes, not daring to take buffaloes and cows to the fields as before.
"Children are told not to go to the fields anymore. Everyone should be cautious when traveling, especially during the rainy season. Since the incident, everyone has been afraid that the land will suddenly collapse again.
Now I just hope to have a solution to overcome the subsidence in the area soon so that people can live and cultivate with peace of mind," said Mr. Ninh.
On May 29, Lao Dong Newspaper's reporter noted that in the deep hole on National Highway 3B where people and motorbikes fell tragically, the hole in the mouth has now been barricaded and warning ropes have been put up.
Inside, the authorities are urgently deploying a search plan for the missing people.
A few meters around that hole, the ground continued to show signs of subsidence, even encroaching on the porch of a house.
Mr. Luong Thanh Loc - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Na Ri district (Bac Kan) confirmed that many sinkholes have appeared in the area and have now relocated a household here out of the danger zone to ensure the safety of property and life.
As of early May 2025, there have been 7 subsidence points in Kim Lu commune (Na Ri), many of which are located close to residential areas, greatly affecting people's lives and psychology.
Currently, dangerous areas have been fenced off and warning signs have been put up, and the authorities continue to monitor and assess geological causes to have appropriate handling plans.
As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, at around 9:34 p.m. on May 26, at the subsidence point on National Highway 3B through Hiep Luc village, Kim Lu commune (Na Ri, Bac Kan), a motorbike driver fell down a barrier and fell into a deep hole.
As soon as they received the news, the authorities were present at the scene and organized a search, but so far the victim's whereabouts have not been found.
The identity of the missing person was identified as Mr. Nguyen Duy Ph. (born in 1989, residing in Kim Hy commune, Na Ri district).
