Around 4:30 on 8/8, while downtown Da Nang was still dark, a group of 6 relatives traveled nearly 20 km by motorbike to Son Tra Peninsula. They planned to watch the sunrise together at Mui Nghe, the easternmost point of the peninsula.

The group parked their motorbikes near a resort on Hoang Sa Street and began walking. None of them had been to Mui Nghe before. They passed an over 800-year-old heritage banyan tree, following a trail about 4 km long illuminated by their phone flashlights.

Mui Nghe is not an authorized tourist destination. The Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Beaches Management Board has erected barriers and warning signs at unauthorized entry points, but many still find ways to descend to the rocky beach. The group arrived at the peninsula before the forest opened for visitors – from 7:30 to 18:30.

Mui Nghe, the easternmost point of Son Tra Peninsula, features challenging terrain. Photo: Google Maps

After navigating in the dark, the 6 people reached the rocky beach as dawn broke. They clung to each other, traversing the rocky outcrops to find a spot to watch and photograph the sunrise.

Vu Hong Cam, 19, from Quang Ngai, recounted that as the group moved, a large wave unexpectedly surged, sweeping 3 girls into the sea. The victims were Truong Thi Phuong, Tran Thi Anh Duong, and Mai Thi Phuong, all 24, residing in Thang Binh commune, Da Nang City.

Seeing the 3 girls struggling, Nguyen Thai, 30, immediately jumped in to rescue them. From the shore, Cam and Truong Van Dong, 20, Truong Thi Phuong’s younger brother, watched as all 4 people remained afloat amidst successive waves crashing against the rocks.

Thai reached one girl, attempting to keep the victim afloat for about 15-20 minutes. However, waves continuously pushed against the rocks then pulled them back out. Gradually exhausted, he could no longer hold onto the victim. The current then swept the 4 people behind a rocky outcrop, out of sight of Cam and Dong.

Unable to enter the sea, Cam and Dong stood on the shore, shouting for help. About 20 minutes later, some fishermen heard their cries and helped them alert authorities.

The Da Nang Border Guard Command issued an urgent notice to fishing vessels in the area. They also coordinated with maritime rescue forces, the Navy, and permanent militia to search for the 4 missing people.

Around 8:00, fishing boat DNa 37141-TS, owned by Nguyen Phu Hong, discovered Thai after over two hours adrift. He was exhausted when brought aboard. The victim was then transferred to SAR 274 for first aid and moved to Da Nang Hospital for treatment of pneumonia due to drowning.

Out at sea, the 3 girls had been swept in different directions by the waves.

Border guards and police conduct search and rescue operations on the steep rocks at Mui Nghe. Photo: Quang Cuong

Fighting to stay afloat

From Navy ship 629, after receiving care and stabilizing her health, Truong Thi Phuong recounted how her body hit rocks before the current pulled her away. Unable to swim and constantly hit by waves, she panicked upon realizing her feet no longer touched the bottom and her companions were out of sight.

Amidst her struggle, Phuong remembered survival skills she had seen on social media. She tried to calm down, stopped flailing, relaxed her body, and adjusted her breathing to stay afloat. Each wave that washed over made her swallow more seawater. Her strength waned, and Phuong began to think she could not hold on much longer.

About one hour later, her hand unexpectedly touched a styrofoam buoy from a fisherman, floating in the sea. Phuong immediately pulled the floating object closer, tucking it under her neck to keep her head above water. "Before I had the buoy, I was exhausted and thought I was about to sink. Thanks to the buoy, I regained hope," she said.

The buoy helped Phuong conserve energy, but her anxiety grew as the shore became more distant, with only the open sea around her. She did not know where she was being swept, nor if the search forces could spot a single person in the vast waters.

Hours immersed in saltwater left Phuong's throat parched. She no longer felt hungry, having swallowed too much seawater, and focused only on staying afloat, reminding herself to remain calm and wait for rescue. By noon, engine sounds echoed from afar. Phuong turned to look, saw a ship moving in an arc, and mustered her strength to wave. The ship continued on, not spotting her.

Hope flickered and then faded, but Phuong did not allow herself to flail or panic. She returned to a supine position, breathing steadily, relying on the buoy to conserve energy. A few minutes later, another ship appeared and headed towards her. Phuong tried to turn, raising her hand high above the water, continuously signaling.

At 14:15, the crew on Ship 629, belonging to Flotilla 311, Brigade 161, Naval Region 3, spotted a waving hand in the sea. The ship immediately accelerated to approach, deploying a life buoy. Soldiers swam down to assist as Phuong was nearly exhausted.

After over 8 hours adrift, she was brought aboard in a state of extreme fatigue. The medical team administered fluids, warmed her, and gave her light food and drink. Once her health stabilized, Phuong was helped to call her family to inform them. "Thanks to the buoy I accidentally found at sea, I gained confidence to hold on. But if it had lasted until night, with bigger waves, I do not know what would have happened," she said.

Race to find two missing girls

Finding Phuong over two nautical miles (about 3,7 km) from Mui Nghe brought hope to the search forces. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van La, Deputy Political Officer of Flotilla 311, who directly commanded Ship 629, stated that the search area was vast, and a person floating on the sea was difficult to spot amidst the waves. Forces had to divide the area, systematically scanning each coordinate.

After rescuing Phuong, Ship 629 did not return to shore but continued searching for Mai Thi Phuong and Tran Thi Anh Duong. As night fell, soldiers used spotlights to scan the sea, hoping to detect signals or items related to the two victims.

"We consider saving lives our utmost duty and will continue searching through the night, hoping to find the two remaining victims," Lieutenant Colonel La said.

Navy, maritime rescue, Border Guard, and permanent militia forces simultaneously expanded the offshore search area, scouring the coastline and rocky outcrops around Mui Nghe.

Authorities are working to find the two missing victims. Photo: Ha Ty

According to a representative from the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Beaches Management Board, the Mui Nghe area features steep cliffs, dense forests, and many trails, making it easy for unfamiliar individuals to get lost. The currents around Mui Nghe are complex; fishing boats typically maintain a safe distance and do not dare approach the rocky beach.

About 8 years ago, 2 Filipino tourists encountered an accident here but were rescued. During a previous search effort, a local resident slipped on the rocks and died.

After the 8/8 accident, local authorities plan to reinforce barriers at unauthorized entry points and have requested forest rangers to increase patrols and address individuals who illegally enter restricted areas.

Nguyen Dong