Family members stated that around 13:00 on 4/8, Hao left home. When he did not return by late afternoon, the family reported it to authorities and sought help in searching, but without success.

After 20:00 on the same day, relatives discovered Hao deceased in the garden's water tank. A basket and the victim's clothes were found on the edge of the tank.

The water tank is about 7 meters from the main house, built of concrete, embedded approximately one meter into the ground, and stands about 2,5 meters high, over 4 meters long, and 2,5 meters wide.

The water tank in the victim's garden. Photo: Hung Le

The family constructed the tank to store water for daily use, irrigation, and livestock. The water level was usually below one meter. However, due to heavy rains in Nghia Hop hamlet over the past 3-4 days, the water level in the tank had risen to over 2 meters.

Since the tank is in the garden, children in the household occasionally used it to cool off during hot weather. Authorities believe the victim did not notice the unexpectedly high water level and drowned.

Hao's family has 4 children. At the time he left home, his mother had just given birth and was unaware of his departure.

Duc Hung