"Two households of Hoang Van Tien, 47, and Hoang Van Duan, 39, with eight members, were leaving the village when the landslide occurred, and so they escaped the accident," the village head said.
According to Hoang Van Tien, he and his brother's families had to leave their homes early in the morning of September 10 to visit their father, who was critically ill.
"As we climbed a nearby mountain, we saw a powerful flash flood accompanied by a huge amount of rocks and soil falling from the Con Voi Mountain onto our village," Tien recalled. "We screamed, trying to call others, but many were sleeping, so they could not hear us. The landslide came so fast, and we had to run."
The man said they stayed at a relative's house but could not inform the local authorities as there was no internet or telephone coverage.
"We've returned to our houses, but there's nothing left," Tien said. "Our houses have been buried when many relatives and neighbours have died or remain missing."
The horrific landslide occurred early on the morning of September 10 when part of the Con Voi Mountain fell and buried almost the whole of Lang Nu Village down a valley some 500 metres away when 158 residents, including 32 children, were sleeping.
The area faced widespread heavy rain triggered by Typhoon Yagi, which caused flash floods and landslides in various locations. There was no power, internet, or telephone coverage, and it was not until 2 pm that day that rescue forces reached the devastated village, which lies 120 km from Lao Cai City.
As of 9.20 am on September 13, rescue forces had recovered 48 bodies from the landslide site while still searching for 39 people who remained missing. Seventeen others were found injured and had been rushed to hospitals.