Around 3 PM, residents near the Eco Green Saigon apartment building on Nguyen Van Linh Street, Tan Thuan ward (former District 7), saw a man park his motorbike on the sidewalk and go to the lake to wash his feet. He then slipped and fell into the water.

Many police officers were mobilized for the search. Photo: Minh Bang

Many police officers were mobilized for the search. Photo: Minh Bang

When the victim struggled in the water, several people tried to rescue him but were unsuccessful and called the police. The lake is connected to a canal that flows into a river, so the water level is often high, with some areas nearly 10 meters deep.

Several rescue vehicles and nearly 50 police officers arrived at the scene. More than 10 divers with oxygen tanks searched around the lake. As of 9 PM, the rescue effort had not been successful. Authorities temporarily suspended the search due to darkness and rising water levels.

According to police, the victim is a 55-year-old ride-hailing motorbike driver who lives in the former District 4.

People gathered to watch the authorities search for the victim in the lake. Photo: Dinh Van

People gathered to watch the authorities search for the victim in the lake. Photo: Dinh Van

Ha, a local resident, said that children and adults often swim and fish in the lake every afternoon. The ward had previously erected a metal fence around part of the lake.

Dinh Van