The boy, a resident of Bao An Ward (Phan Rang - Thap Cham City), was on an outing with his family at Ba Ho Waterfall yesterday afternoon when he went missing, Truong Minh Vu, chairman of the Cong Hai Commune People's Committee, said on 12/8. The family suspected he had drowned while swimming and alerted the authorities.

The Phan Rang regional fire and rescue team, part of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Police Department of Fire Prevention and Fighting, and Rescue and Salvage Police, deployed 11 officers with specialized equipment to dive in the area of the 4-meter-deep pools at the waterfall. Another team expanded the search radius 500 meters onshore.

Rescue forces discovered the teenager's body near a rock crevice at the waterfall. Photo: Khanh Hoa Provincial Police

Rescue forces discovered the teenager's body near a rock crevice at the waterfall. Photo: Khanh Hoa Provincial Police

The search was hampered by the deep water and the complex terrain with its many piled-up rocks. This morning, authorities found the boy's body in an underwater rock crevice and retrieved it to hand over to the family.

Ba Ho Waterfall in Cong Hai Commune is located about 25 km from the center of Phan Rang. The waterfall originates from the protective forest at the headwaters of the Song Trau River. The fast-flowing water has carved deep hollows into the cliffs, creating spectacular formations.

Along its course, the stream widens on the mountainside, forming three large pools. The area, with its untouched scenery, attracts many tourists for recreation and adventure.

Bui Toan