North-South Railway Paralysis: Over 21,000 Train Tickets Refunded to Passengers

According to the railway sector’s report, as of noon today (November 23), dozens of trains have been halted along the tracks due to multiple instances of washed-out foundations, rail displacement, and landslides. At Diêu Trì and Tháp Chàm stations alone, five passenger trains remain stranded, including SE1 with 145 passengers and SE8 with 19 passengers, who have been stuck since November 19. With road transportation also paralyzed, the railway sector has provided over 9,400 free main meals and 6,100 supplementary meals to passengers awaiting rescue.

Rescue and recovery efforts are underway across the entire line. In the Diêu Trì – Quy Nhơn area, heavy rainfall has washed away ballast stones, eroding the roadbed by 0.28-0.4 meters and dragging significant amounts of vegetation and debris onto the tracks. Near Km01+877 bridge, a severe landslide has forced authorities to close the entire section since the morning of November 21 for repairs.

The most critical situation is on the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route, particularly in Gia Lai, Quảng Ngãi, Đắk Lắk, and Khánh Hòa provinces. Numerous sections have experienced landslides ranging from 0.8 to 3 meters, with some areas seeing boulders up to 15m³. At the Vũng Rô tunnel (Km1228+800), debris has completely blocked the tracks, halting all train movement. Between Cây Cầy and Hòa Tân, water vortices have carved out depths of up to 4 meters, dislodging rails and requiring continuous emergency repairs.

In areas where waters have receded, railway teams are actively restoring track foundations, reinforcing embankments, and clearing debris to reopen routes as quickly as possible. In high-risk zones, trains are operating at reduced speeds or temporarily halted to ensure passenger safety.

While the railway sector battles these disruptions, the national highway system under local management has also suffered severe damage. The Directorate for Roads reports that as of 10 AM today, 19 blockage points remain on highways in Đắk Lắk, Khánh Hòa, and Lâm Đồng, primarily due to embankment collapses and road fractures.

On Mimosa Pass and D’ran Pass (Lâm Đồng), approximately 70 meters of roadway have been completely destroyed, with depths reaching 40 meters, severely disrupting transportation.

The Vietnam Directorate for Roads has deployed multiple task forces to oversee on-site operations, directing units to mobilize manpower, machinery, and materials for urgent road clearance. Additionally, 5,000 gabions have been provided to localities for temporary reinforcement of hazardous areas. Road management teams are on 24/7 standby to address any emerging issues caused by ongoing rainfall and flooding.