Heavy Rains Hamper Remains Excavation and Sampling at Doc Lap Martyrs' Cemetery

Heavy rainfall in Dien Bien province, northwestern Vietnam, is severely hindering the excavation and sampling of remains at the Doc Lap Martyrs' Cemetery. While difficulties were anticipated, the persistent rain has further complicated the mission for the officers and soldiers of the provincial Military Command. The operation, which began on July 23, had completed the excavation and sampling of remains from over 90 graves by the afternoon of July 27. However, geological changes at the cemetery, resulting from multiple upgrades and renovations over the years, combined with the extensive rainfall, have led to significant groundwater infiltration, greatly impacting the digging and sampling process. Lieutenant Colonel Le Dinh Hai, Deputy Head of the Political Department of the Dien Bien Provincial Military Command, stated that most graves are covered with concrete slabs and average depths of 1.5-1.7 meters are required to reach the remains. The continuous inflow of groundwater necessitates workers to manually bail out water from the excavation sites. Colonel Vuong Dinh Hoa, Political Commissar of the Dien Bien Provincial Military Command, visited and encouraged the team on the afternoon of July 7. He requested that the specialized departments provide additional equipment and tools to facilitate the soldiers' work. Colonel Hoa also emphasized the urgency of accelerating the "500-day, 500-night campaign" and urged each soldier to overcome difficulties and achieve the set objectives. Reporters observed that all stages of the operation, from excavating graves to sifting for remains and backfilling, are being performed manually, highlighting the arduous nature of the task for the military personnel. The Doc Lap Martyrs' Cemetery is located in Thanh Nua commune and contains 2,432 graves, of which 2,042 are unidentified and require DNA sampling. The cemetery was established between 1958-1959, concurrently with the A1 and Him Lam Martyrs' Cemeteries. Subsequent renovations have significantly altered the site's geological composition. Source: Nhan Dan