At 1:30 p.m., the 114 Emergency Response Center received a report that two hikers were exhausted on Co Ong mountain in Dam Mon village, Dai Lanh commune (formerly Van Ninh district). The hikers were a 19-year-old Dutch woman and a 25-year-old Vietnamese man from Thanh Hoa. They were unable to descend the mountain on their own.

Rescue forces assist the distressed hikers. Photo: Khanh Hoa Provincial Police

Rescue forces assist the distressed hikers. Photo: Khanh Hoa Provincial Police

The Khanh Hoa Provincial Police Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue dispatched a specialized vehicle and six firefighters from Area 3 to the scene, coordinating with other relevant authorities. The rescue team traveled to Dam Mon village and then boarded a fishing boat, taking a sea route around to Co Ong mountain. The terrain in this area is complex, making the search challenging.

After more than three hours, the rescue team located the two hikers. The Dutch tourist was exhausted, suffering from stomach pain, and unable to move. The Vietnamese hiker was in stable condition. The firefighters provided food and water, helped the hikers down the mountain, and then transported them by boat back to the mainland.

Co Ong mountain lies on the route to Mui Doi, Dai Lanh commune, the easternmost point of mainland Vietnam and the first place to see the sunrise. The route features diverse terrain, including dense forests, sand dunes, and precarious rocky cliffs. According to locals, hikers should be accompanied by experienced guides and carry sufficient water, food, and electrolytes.

Bui Toan